News for 'census act'

'This move is Modi's political desperation'

'This move is Modi's political desperation'

Rediff.com9 Jan 2019

'The BJP has lost 5 states and Lok Sabha elections are due in less than 90 days.' 'The reservation bill is a jhunjhuna (lollipop) for the upper castes.'

Amid citizenship row, Pranab cautions against majoritarianism

Amid citizenship row, Pranab cautions against majoritarianism

Rediff.com17 Dec 2019

'We think we can do anything and everything when we have an overwhelming majority in the legislature. But that should not be the case'

Why Young India Thinks Old

Why Young India Thinks Old

Rediff.com7 Jun 2021

'Three decades after liberalisation kicked off, my friend's son and niece -- both born well after that historic shift in economic policy -- find themselves newly off the beaten path for no fault than listening to their heart,' notes Shyam G Menon.

LS passes bill to give constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes

LS passes bill to give constitutional status to National Commission for Backward Classes

Rediff.com2 Aug 2018

The passage of this major legislation comes ahead of the general election due early next year.

The greatest threat to our democracy post 1975

The greatest threat to our democracy post 1975

Rediff.com19 Feb 2020

'Refusing to implement the CAA-NRC, as some states have done via resolutions in state assemblies, is a violation of the Constitution; an attempt to alter the fundamental structure of our democracy and a recipe for anarchy,' argues Vivek Gumaste.

The worrying case of child marriages in Kerala

The worrying case of child marriages in Kerala

Rediff.com10 Nov 2015

Venu Muruvelil reports on the Outrage over thriving child marriages in Kerala as the state government looks the other way.

Girl ad power: The new Ms India

Girl ad power: The new Ms India

Rediff.com9 May 2017

A confident, assertive single woman is finding her way into popular advertising narratives.

Final NRC out in Assam, nearly 2 million stare at uncertain future

Final NRC out in Assam, nearly 2 million stare at uncertain future

Rediff.com31 Aug 2019

A total of 3,30,27,661 people had applied to be included in the NRC. Of them, 3,11,21,004 have been included in the document and 19,06,657 excluded.

BJP seems to be flying high in Haryana

BJP seems to be flying high in Haryana

Rediff.com15 Oct 2019

Lok Sabha elections result of 2019 tells us the Modi wave has only consolidated, instead of waning.

Why migrant labourers have little choice but to head home

Why migrant labourers have little choice but to head home

Rediff.com26 Mar 2020

Around 81 per cent of the workers constitute the unorganised sector - devoid of any social security cover and outside the purview of a complex set of labour laws.

How would my mother know her father's date of birth?

How would my mother know her father's date of birth?

Rediff.com31 Dec 2019

'How many Indian parents, still alive, really have documents of, their parents's date and place of birth? Not more than 27% of still alive Indians have got birth certificates,' points out Mohammad Sajjad.

Why Nagori bull calves are suddenly so precious

Why Nagori bull calves are suddenly so precious

Rediff.com27 Dec 2017

The precautions are being proposed to ensure that other cattle varieties are not exported or transported outside the state as Nagori cattle

Why Anglo-Indians feel let down by Modi

Why Anglo-Indians feel let down by Modi

Rediff.com20 Dec 2019

'We fear worse things to happen. We feel this is just a teaser.' 'I wonder whether later, the Christian community will be targeted.'

Desi from Mumbai takes on American political Goliath

Desi from Mumbai takes on American political Goliath

Rediff.com3 Jul 2020

'It is never easy to run a campaign as a woman, particularly a minority woman, especially when you are bucking the establishment.' 'My entire campaign is an act of resistance.'

Are Adivasis being driven out to save the tiger?

Are Adivasis being driven out to save the tiger?

Rediff.com21 Apr 2017

'Why do you want the tribal communities to come out of the jungles?' 'For development?' 'Why cannot their development take place over there?' 'The Modi government is diluting the Forest Rights Act in the name of industrialisation and Project Tiger.'

'What do they gain by getting rid of 2 MPs?'

'What do they gain by getting rid of 2 MPs?'

Rediff.com9 Jan 2020

'The nominations were not meant to last permanently, but depended on the government of the day.' 'There was no question of revoking it during Congress, Janata Dal or even Vajpayee's NDA rule.' 'But Modi is different.'

Fear and loathing in Jharkhand

Fear and loathing in Jharkhand

Rediff.com21 Sep 2018

'The Jharkhand government is increasingly intolerant of voices of dissent.' 'Recently 20 persons, including activists, writers and academics, were booked for sedition.' 'Many of them have been critical of the government's apathy towards Adivasis,' notes Siraj Dutta.

'Why is the government giving so much importance to caste?'

'Why is the government giving so much importance to caste?'

Rediff.com10 Sep 2018

'It was the Supreme Court's order (recommending changes in the SC/ST Act).' 'Isn't it wrong not to accept even the court's order?' 'Are you bigger than every institution?'

Why India should be worried even though tiger numbers are up

Why India should be worried even though tiger numbers are up

Rediff.com22 Jan 2015

'We are rushing to 'develop' without carefully valuing natural areas.' 'With careful land use planning and scientific zonation at least 5 to 10 per cent of the country's land can be secured for tigers and other such species, and another 5 to 15 per cent kept under low-impact uses to support biodiversity that can coexist with human uses.'

'My worry relates to possibility of social collapse'

'My worry relates to possibility of social collapse'

Rediff.com6 Jul 2020

'The theme of death seems to be a theme about which many of us, raised in Western societies, have almost completely removed from consciousness; it represents a theme that is suddenly and forcefully resurging now.' 'And for some, this is scary and destabilising.'

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).

This can help you fight sexual harassment at work

This can help you fight sexual harassment at work

Rediff.com21 Dec 2017

SHe-box deals with complaints from women employees in both public & private sectors.

Unlike other UTs, Jammu & Kashmir to get funds from Centre's divisible pool

Unlike other UTs, Jammu & Kashmir to get funds from Centre's divisible pool

Rediff.com7 Aug 2019

Sources in the Fifteenth Finance Commission said that they will implement the provisions after the bill is enacted and the President makes a reference to it.

No documents needed for NPR: Amit Shah in RS

No documents needed for NPR: Amit Shah in RS

Rediff.com12 Mar 2020

Shah said the Anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in the national capital were turned into communal riots. "I call upon my Muslim brothers and sisters that false propaganda is being spread on the issue of CAA. This Act is not to take anyone's citizenship but to give citizenship," said Shah.

'Wait and watch for a year': Advice given to Modi on Andhra-Telangana

'Wait and watch for a year': Advice given to Modi on Andhra-Telangana

Rediff.com22 Aug 2014

Governor E S L Narasimhan asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to adopt a cautious approach when trying to deal with the issues that are currently plaguing the states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh

'Assamese feel betrayed by the BJP'

'Assamese feel betrayed by the BJP'

Rediff.com13 Dec 2019

'If there are provocations and people try to exploit and manipulate the situation along linguistic, religious lines, then Assam might relapse into its troubled past.'

Is cash still the king in TN polls?

Is cash still the king in TN polls?

Rediff.com5 Apr 2021

This time round, even 'petrol coupons' were reportedly distributed for those attending campaign rallies, especially those addressed by top leaders, cutting across party lines. If this owed to the rising cost of petrol and diesel -- which is a poll issue this time -- there were the customary coupons for 'quarter' (liquor bottle size) and non-vegetarian biryani. Some media reports claimed that some of these 'crowds' attended more than one political rally on the same day in the last week, and at times for rival political parties in adjoining constituencies or districts, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

Bangladesh cricketers escape New Zealand mosque shooting

Bangladesh cricketers escape New Zealand mosque shooting

Rediff.com15 Mar 2019

The Bangladesh cricket team was arriving for prayers at the mosque when the shooting occurred but all members were safe, a team coach told Reuters.

Land reforms fail, only 5% of India's farmers control 32% land

Land reforms fail, only 5% of India's farmers control 32% land

Rediff.com18 May 2016

The average land given to the rural landless is small and falling, from 0.95 acres in 2002 to 0.88 acres in 2015 - a 7.4 per cent drop over 13 years-and a slowdown is evident in the process of taking land away from rich landlords, the RTI data reveal.

'In our political system minority view is either ignored or not heard'

'In our political system minority view is either ignored or not heard'

Rediff.com10 Mar 2016

APSCC Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina talks about the life and times of the Sikh minority in a politically tumultuous region of Jammu & Kashmir.

CAA/NPR/NRC: What govt must do

CAA/NPR/NRC: What govt must do

Rediff.com6 Jan 2020

'The CAA should be kept in abeyance, without making it a prestige issue.'
'Laying down a clear policy on the future of illegal migrants will dispel anxieties and help in implementing the CAA, NPR and also the NCR,' suggests former Union home secretary Dr Madhav Godbole.

'We will lose millions of girls', Maneka Gandhi!

'We will lose millions of girls', Maneka Gandhi!

Rediff.com2 Mar 2016

'The minister is not concerned about our daughters' well-being.' 'Just when the sex ratio for girls is showing an improvement across every district, the minister wants the onus to be on the women knowing very well that decision making in India is in the hands of the male.'

Stringent law on anvil for services data

Stringent law on anvil for services data

Rediff.com26 Oct 2015

A Collection of Services Trade Statistics Act is being thought of.

'Students asking for jobs, Modi is giving them NPR'

'Students asking for jobs, Modi is giving them NPR'

Rediff.com26 Dec 2019

'Our country does not need an NRC. We need to improve our economy which is in a bad condition.'

Delhi is crumbling under its own weight

Delhi is crumbling under its own weight

Rediff.com18 Dec 2019

While Delhi boasts of one of the best metro systems in the world and decent infrastructure, reckless construction, legalising unauthorised colonies, and the worsening water and air quality dent its image of being a robust cosmopolitan city.

These migrants are unwelcome guests in their own homes

These migrants are unwelcome guests in their own homes

Rediff.com30 Mar 2020

As the world awaits the end of the global pandemic, rural Bengal might be witnessing a recession unfolding in bits and pieces. With factories and tea gardens closing down, agricultural income falling and storm Aila ravaging a large part of deltaic West Bengal in 2010, migration gradually became a norm.

What lies ahead for the big cat in the wild, wild world?

What lies ahead for the big cat in the wild, wild world?

Rediff.com28 Jul 2018

On International Tiger Day, India is still a long way from making sure that the future of our national animal is safe.

2 members of National Statistical Commission quit over jobs data report

2 members of National Statistical Commission quit over jobs data report

Rediff.com30 Jan 2019

With the two members quitting, the NSC now has only two members -- Chief Statistician Pravin Srivastava and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.

AIADMK falls to anti-CAA sentiment in TN local polls

AIADMK falls to anti-CAA sentiment in TN local polls

Rediff.com3 Jan 2020

Will the AIADMK acknowledge the role of CAA and the anti-CAA protests, both inside the state and outside, as among the causes for the current electoral reversal, as many in the party now want? It is unlikely to be so, but then the pressure will increase on the leadership to reassess the BJP alliance at one level and the 'blind support' for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's controversial policies on the other, says N Sathiya Moorthy.

E-commerce in India: To be or not to be

E-commerce in India: To be or not to be

Rediff.com14 Feb 2020

Ajit Balakrishnan offers a thinking man's guide to e-commerce controversies.