News for 'World Service India'

Commonwealth Champion Bids Farewell To Her Guns

Commonwealth Champion Bids Farewell To Her Guns

Rediff.com22 Sep 2026

Commonwealth Games gold medallist and Arjuna Awardee Roopa Unnikrishnan gives away the rifles that shaped her brilliant shooting career, hoping they will inspire a new generation of Indian shooters.

India Will Become A Leader In Applied AI: Nilekani

India Will Become A Leader In Applied AI: Nilekani

Rediff.com7 Aug 2026

'Applying AI to change the lives of Indians and at population scale -- just like we did with DPI [digital public infrastructure] -- is really where it's going to go.'

Tirumala Tirupati temple to insure devotees for Rs 2 lakh

Tirumala Tirupati temple to insure devotees for Rs 2 lakh

Rediff.com16 Sep 2026

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced several new initiatives for Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), including Aadhaar-based devotee insurance for Rs 2 lakh, the establishment of an SV Museum by TCS Trust, and the introduction of electric buses donated by Reliance Foundation and Bharat Biotech. The plans also include global expansion of Srivari temples, improved Annadanam, integrated hospital services, and significant infrastructure development in Tirupati to make it a services and wedding destination with a Net Zero concept.

Air India picks leader who quadrupled Ethiopian Airlines' revenue

Air India picks leader who quadrupled Ethiopian Airlines' revenue

Rediff.com6 Aug 2026

Tewolde Gebremariam, a seasoned aviation professional with extensive experience at Ethiopian Airlines, has been named the new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Air India. He is tasked with leading the airline's ambitious five-year transformation plan, Vihaan.AI, aimed at achieving significant growth and profitability, marking him as the second foreign national to helm Air India under Tata Group ownership.

Once afraid to leave home alone, Savita Punia now guides India's young hockey players

Once afraid to leave home alone, Savita Punia now guides India's young hockey players

Rediff.com22 Aug 2026

Savita Punia's journey from a shy youngster dependent on her mother to a confident veteran goalkeeper and mentor reflects hockey's profound impact on her life.

BRICS Summit 2026 Focuses On Practical Outcomes

BRICS Summit 2026 Focuses On Practical Outcomes

Rediff.com14 Sep 2026

The highlight of the successful BRICS Summit was its ability to deliver a joint statement that all members, including Iran and the United Arab Emirates, embroiled in the war in West Asia, signed.

Why Autonomous AI Agents Pose A Global Security Risk

Why Autonomous AI Agents Pose A Global Security Risk

Rediff.com27 Sep 2026

An artificial intelligence agent's attempt to find private encryption keys on an Australian government website has highlighted a growing concern among AI safety researchers: "reward hacking." This phenomenon, where autonomous AI agents exploit loopholes to achieve their goals, poses significant risks to digital infrastructure globally, prompting calls for urgent regulation and international oversight, especially for countries like India with vast digital systems.

Delhi on high alert for BRICS meet, traffic curbs on key roads

Delhi on high alert for BRICS meet, traffic curbs on key roads

Rediff.com11 Sep 2026

New Delhi is under a thick blanket of security as it hosts top world leaders for the BRICS Summit. Extensive security measures, including thousands of personnel and CCTV cameras, are in place. Commuters can expect temporary traffic restrictions and diversions due to VVIP movements, though officials aim to minimise public inconvenience.

BCCI bids emotional farewell to two India coaches

BCCI bids emotional farewell to two India coaches

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

The BCCI has thanked assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip after the duo's successful stints with Team India came to an end, acknowledging their behind-the-scenes role in the team's achievements.

Microsoft Boosts India's Digital Infrastructure With Fourth Cloud Region

Microsoft Boosts India's Digital Infrastructure With Fourth Cloud Region

Rediff.com6 Aug 2026

Microsoft has launched its fourth cloud region in India, located in Hyderabad, significantly expanding its hyperscale cloud presence. This move is part of a USD 20.5-billion investment in India's digital and AI infrastructure, aiming to support the country's rapid digital growth and meet increasing demand from major enterprises.

Tahir Raj Bhasin: 'My Dad Flew The Mirage 2000. I Was The Black Sheep'

Tahir Raj Bhasin: 'My Dad Flew The Mirage 2000. I Was The Black Sheep'

Rediff.com30 Sep 2026

'My parents were crying because they were so excited that I was on screen, that it was an YRF film, and it was opposite Rani Mukerji.'

8 Nations With Highest Doctor-To-Population Ratios: Where Is India?

8 Nations With Highest Doctor-To-Population Ratios: Where Is India?

Rediff.com13 Aug 2026

How well is your country's healthcare system staffed? We compare the density of essential healthcare professionals across countries, based on figures from World Population Review.

The World No. 1 Who Lost A Leg In Combat

The World No. 1 Who Lost A Leg In Combat

Rediff.com4 Aug 2026

Subedar Hokato Sema lost his leg in a mine blast on the Line of Control. Today he is a champion para shot-putter and among the most decorated para soldier-athletes.

First-ever Ganga Aarti held on River Thames in UK

First-ever Ganga Aarti held on River Thames in UK

Rediff.com14 Sep 2026

Thousands gathered on the banks of the River Thames in London for the first-ever Ganga Aarti, a traditional Hindu ceremony of light and thanksgiving. Organised by Chinmaya Mission UK as part of the 'Totally Thames' festival, the event symbolised gratitude for nature and knowledge, while also celebrating 75 years of the Chinmaya Mission. The ceremony was conducted on land to ensure environmental responsibility.

India, Japan deepen maritime security with eye on China

India, Japan deepen maritime security with eye on China

Rediff.com20 Aug 2026

India and Japan have signed a Memorandum of Arrangement on maritime security cooperation, committing to deepen defence ties and oppose unilateral actions that impede freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific, a move seen as directed at China's increasing military presence.

The Prince And The Driver

The Prince And The Driver

Rediff.com16 Sep 2026

A Kishore Kumar song, a birthday cake, a prince's break from protocol to thank his driver, a Persian painting on the ceiling of the presidential residence -- the BRICS Summit had many memorable moments.

Indian Duo Satwik-Chirag Stage Epic Comeback For China Masters Crown

Indian Duo Satwik-Chirag Stage Epic Comeback For China Masters Crown

Rediff.com6 Sep 2026

Star Indian men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty clinched the China Masters Super 750 title after a thrilling three-game comeback victory against China's He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu. This marks their second title of the season and provides a significant boost ahead of the Asian Games.

T20 World Cup: New India era? Women's team looks unstoppable

T20 World Cup: New India era? Women's team looks unstoppable

Rediff.com20 Jun 2026

India's bowling coach hails team's "hungry mindset" after strong T20 World Cup start

Why ServiceNow Sees India As A Major Growth Engine

Why ServiceNow Sees India As A Major Growth Engine

Rediff.com6 May 2026

ServiceNow, a leading AI platform for business transformation, is highly optimistic about its growth prospects in the Indian market, according to President and Chief Product Officer Amit Zavery.

Satwik-Chirag end wait, win China Masters title

Satwik-Chirag end wait, win China Masters title

Rediff.com6 Sep 2026

Indian men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty won the China Masters title, defeating China's He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu in a hard-fought final. This marks their second title of the season, adding to their Singapore Open Super 750 victory.

AMI To Deploy 9,000 Nvidia Rubin GPUs

AMI To Deploy 9,000 Nvidia Rubin GPUs

Rediff.com26 Aug 2026

The Hyderabad AI factory is being designed to run some of the world's largest and most sophisticated AI models, including trillion-parameter models and next-generation agentic AI applications.

UPI payments above Rs 2,000 to merchants to attract 0.4% MDR from Oct 15

UPI payments above Rs 2,000 to merchants to attract 0.4% MDR from Oct 15

Rediff.com16 Sep 2026

The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI person-to-merchant (P2M) transactions exceeding Rs 2,000, effective October 15. This move ends nearly six years of fully free UPI payments, though person-to-person (P2P) transfers and small P2M payments remain free. The charges aim to bolster investment in UPI infrastructure, with specific exemptions and caps for essential sectors.

Former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Tewolde Gebremariam is new Air India boss

Former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Tewolde Gebremariam is new Air India boss

Rediff.com6 Aug 2026

Air India has announced the appointment of Tewolde Gebremariam, former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, replacing Campbell Wilson. This strategic appointment comes as the airline navigates expansion amidst significant challenges.

India's tricolour embarks on global time-zone relay from Fiji on I-Day

India's tricolour embarks on global time-zone relay from Fiji on I-Day

Rediff.com15 Aug 2026

India launched 'Suryapath Tiranga', a unique initiative involving over 50 Indian missions globally, to digitally relay images of the tricolour across multiple time zones, starting from Fiji, to mark the country's 80th Independence Day.

Nirmala Sitharaman Calls For Faster CBDC Progress And Stronger Cybersecurity Measures

Nirmala Sitharaman Calls For Faster CBDC Progress And Stronger Cybersecurity Measures

Rediff.com11 Sep 2026

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged the Reserve Bank of India to accelerate its central bank digital currency initiatives, emphasising the need to sharpen capabilities with the digital rupee amidst rapid advancements in tokenisation, agentic AI, and quantum computing. She also highlighted critical concerns regarding cybersecurity, warning that autonomous AI systems are evolving rapidly and require robust safeguards. Sitharaman proposed a federated industry platform to give India's technology ecosystem a collective international voice.

Can India Become New Power Centre Of Global Chess?

Can India Become New Power Centre Of Global Chess?

Rediff.com1 Aug 2026

'India should hold several high-level chess tournaments that would attract the world's top players so that the country will have a say in the game.'

EPFO wage ceiling hiked to Rs 25,000, to benefit 51 lakh workers

EPFO wage ceiling hiked to Rs 25,000, to benefit 51 lakh workers

Rediff.com16 Sep 2026

The Union Cabinet has approved a significant increase in the mandatory EPFO wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 per month, a move expected to bring over 51 lakh additional employees under mandatory social security coverage.

GMR Aero Technic And Honeywell Aerospace Collaborate To Boost LEAP Engine MRO In India

GMR Aero Technic And Honeywell Aerospace Collaborate To Boost LEAP Engine MRO In India

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

GMR Aero Technic has signed a license agreement with Honeywell Aerospace to provide maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for LEAP engine line replaceable units (LRUs). This partnership will enhance MRO capabilities for Airbus A320neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in India, leveraging Honeywell's technology and GMR's infrastructure to offer efficient and cost-effective solutions for regional airlines.

BRICS summit: Delhi hotels fully booked, rates soar

BRICS summit: Delhi hotels fully booked, rates soar

Rediff.com8 Sep 2026

Luxury hotels in Delhi are experiencing a significant room crunch and a sharp increase in tariffs ahead of the BRICS Summit. Many marquee properties show no availability or are quoting rates exceeding six figures per night around the September 12-13 event, highlighting a gap in India's hospitality infrastructure.

Indian EVMs are secure, not connected to internet: CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Indian EVMs are secure, not connected to internet: CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Rediff.com25 Aug 2026

Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar has affirmed that Indian electronic voting machines (EVMs) are manufactured by public sector companies and operate without internet, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi connectivity, ensuring their security and reliability.

How Satwik-Chirag Fought Back To Win China Masters Super 750

How Satwik-Chirag Fought Back To Win China Masters Super 750

Rediff.com6 Sep 2026

Star Indian men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty secured the China Masters Super 750 title after a thrilling three-game comeback victory against China's He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu. This marks their second title of the season and provides a significant confidence boost ahead of the upcoming Asian Games.

Jasprit Bumrah Fit To Lead India's Pace Attack In Sri Lanka

Jasprit Bumrah Fit To Lead India's Pace Attack In Sri Lanka

Rediff.com31 Jul 2026

India's premier fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, has received clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence to participate in the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Bumrah had been recovering from an impact injury sustained during the recent ODI series against England, which forced him to miss the third ODI. His return is crucial for India's World Test Championship aspirations.

Restaurants, Multiplexes Eye World Cup Final Windfall

Restaurants, Multiplexes Eye World Cup Final Windfall

Rediff.com18 Jul 2026

Businesses across sectors are positioning themselves to capitalise on the expected surge in demand.

Criticism Of RBI's Swap Scheme Is Uncalled For

Criticism Of RBI's Swap Scheme Is Uncalled For

Rediff.com16 Sep 2026

It is important to understand that the rupee's appreciation, driven by the 2013 special swap scheme, reduced India's import costs for petroleum, oil, and gold, points out Dr Ashwani Mahajan, National Co-Convenor, Swadeshi Jagaran Manch.

Boeing India Teams With Merlinhawk For EO/IR System Support

Boeing India Teams With Merlinhawk For EO/IR System Support

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

Merlinhawk Aerospace has partnered with Boeing India Defence to provide in-country maintenance, repair, and lifecycle support for advanced Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) systems on Indian military platforms. This collaboration aims to strengthen local support, reduce turnaround times, and enhance mission readiness for the Indian Navy, aligning with India's self-reliance goals in defence.

Boeing India Teams With Merlinhawk For EO/IR System Support

Boeing India Teams With Merlinhawk For EO/IR System Support

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

Merlinhawk Aerospace has partnered with Boeing India Defence to provide in-country maintenance, repair, and lifecycle support for advanced Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) systems on Indian military platforms. This collaboration aims to strengthen local support, reduce turnaround times, and enhance mission readiness for the Indian Navy, aligning with India's self-reliance goals in defence.

'Students India's future': Prez Murmu promises fair exams in I-Day eve address

'Students India's future': Prez Murmu promises fair exams in I-Day eve address

Rediff.com14 Aug 2026

Underlining that students are the "architects of India's future," President Droupadi Murmu on Friday said the government is taking comprehensive steps to reform public examinations to completely curb paper leaks and unfair means, making the system transparent, secure, and trustworthy.

BRICS Summit Pushes For Safe And Inclusive AI Development

BRICS Summit Pushes For Safe And Inclusive AI Development

Rediff.com12 Sep 2026

BRICS leaders, in their New Delhi Declaration 2026, have called for wider access to Artificial Intelligence resources and stronger international cooperation to ensure the technology is safe, secure, inclusive, and reliable. The declaration outlines a broad technology agenda covering AI, cybersecurity, digital public infrastructure, telecom, quantum technologies, and advanced manufacturing, committing to implement the grouping's statement on 'Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence'.

How India Can Lead In AI-Native Governance, According To ServiceNow

How India Can Lead In AI-Native Governance, According To ServiceNow

Rediff.com7 May 2026

ServiceNow Vice Chairman Nick Tzitzon highlights India's potential to develop an AI-native government model, emphasising enhanced public services, data privacy, and economic growth.

Understanding The New UPI Transaction Fees For Merchants

Understanding The New UPI Transaction Fees For Merchants

Rediff.com15 Sep 2026

The Indian government has introduced a 0.4% transaction fee on Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payments exceeding Rs 2,000 for merchants, effective October 15, marking the end of nearly six years of free service. Person-to-person transfers and small-value transactions below Rs 2,000 remain free. The new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) is capped at Rs 300 for transactions above Rs 75,000, with differentiated rates for essential sectors and investments, and safeguards to prevent costs from being passed to consumers.