News for 'government initiative'

Women's cash scheme alone won't win polls: Cong leader takes swipe at DMK

Women's cash scheme alone won't win polls: Cong leader takes swipe at DMK

Rediff.com15 Feb 2026

Senior Congress functionary Praveen Chakravarty has questioned the DMK's flagship women's assistance scheme, suggesting it's superstitious to believe it alone will ensure electoral success, citing examples of similar schemes failing to secure victories for other parties.

Haryana CM Saini Denies Opposition's Pension Cancellation Claims

Haryana CM Saini Denies Opposition's Pension Cancellation Claims

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has refuted claims by the opposition regarding the cancellation of old-age pensions, calling them baseless and politically motivated. He assured that the government is verifying discrepancies to ensure only eligible beneficiaries receive pensions and highlighted the increase in pension amounts and the number of beneficiaries under the current regime.

Rashtra Sevika Samiti Chief on Reasons for Continued Women's Safety Concerns

Rashtra Sevika Samiti Chief on Reasons for Continued Women's Safety Concerns

Rediff.com5 days ago

Rashtra Sevika Samiti chief V Shantha Kumari highlights the erosion of traditional values and delays in legal action as key factors contributing to ongoing concerns about women's safety in India.

CID to Probe Real Estate Developer's Murder in West Bengal

CID to Probe Real Estate Developer's Murder in West Bengal

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

The West Bengal government has transferred the investigation into the murder of real estate developer Safiq Khan to the state CID following concerns from the victim's family about the lack of arrests.

Kerala Police Officials Suspended After Custodial Torture Allegations

Kerala Police Officials Suspended After Custodial Torture Allegations

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

Four police officials in Kerala have been suspended following allegations of custodial torture of two suspects in a motorcycle theft case. An inquiry revealed that arrest procedures were not properly followed.

Haryana Arrests Employee in Rs 590 Crore IDFC Bank Fraud

Haryana Arrests Employee in Rs 590 Crore IDFC Bank Fraud

Rediff.com28 Feb 2026

A Haryana government employee has been arrested in connection with the Rs 590 crore IDFC First Bank fraud case, which involved state government accounts and led to the recovery of nearly Rs 556 crore within 24 hours.

Indian Leaders Urge PM Modi to Evacuate Citizens Amid Iran Conflict

Indian Leaders Urge PM Modi to Evacuate Citizens Amid Iran Conflict

Rediff.com1 Mar 2026

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take urgent steps for the evacuation of Indian citizens stuck in countries affected by the recent joint Israel-US attack on Iran.

India hosts GraphIN 2026 to explore graphene's potential

India hosts GraphIN 2026 to explore graphene's potential

Rediff.com4 days ago

The GraphIN 2026 conference in Kochi brings together global experts to discuss advancements in graphene and two-dimensional materials, highlighting India's growing role in electronics and semiconductor manufacturing.

HC questions DU's blanket ban on campus protests, seeks explanation

HC questions DU's blanket ban on campus protests, seeks explanation

Rediff.com1 days ago

The Delhi High Court has questioned the blanket ban on protests and demonstrations on the Delhi University campus, seeking justification from the university and Delhi Police. The court acknowledged the need for balance but emphasized that a complete prohibition is likely untenable.

Under EC pressure, Bengal acts on voter list fraud; books 5 employees

Under EC pressure, Bengal acts on voter list fraud; books 5 employees

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

The West Bengal government has filed FIRs against five state government employees for alleged lapses in electoral roll revisions, following an Election Commission ultimatum. The action comes after the EC directed the state to initiate criminal cases against the accused for adding fictitious names to voter lists.

Pune Porsche crash: Minor driver's father granted bail in blood sample case

Pune Porsche crash: Minor driver's father granted bail in blood sample case

Rediff.com3 days ago

The Supreme Court has granted bail to Vishal Agarwal, the father of the minor accused of driving the Porsche in the fatal Pune crash, in connection with the blood sample swapping case.

Why taxis, autos, trucks in Maha are going off roads

Why taxis, autos, trucks in Maha are going off roads

Rediff.com5 Mar 2026

Transporters across Maharashtra have announced a statewide strike to protest against e-challans and other issues, potentially disrupting transport services including school buses and commercial vehicles.

Congress Demands Apology from Kerala Health Minister Over Attack Claims

Congress Demands Apology from Kerala Health Minister Over Attack Claims

Rediff.com28 Feb 2026

The Congress party in Kerala has demanded an apology from Health Minister Veena George and the CPI(M) leadership for allegedly spreading false claims about an attack by KSU activists. The KPCC president alleges that the minister's claims led to violence against Congress offices and workers.

Rajaji bust replaces Lutyens' statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rajaji bust replaces Lutyens' statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rediff.com24 Feb 2026

A bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari, the first Indian governor-general, has replaced a statue of British architect Edwin Lutyens at Rashtrapati Bhavan, symbolizing a move away from colonial influences and embracing Indian heritage.

Iran Plays Hardball With India's Hormuz Requests

Iran Plays Hardball With India's Hormuz Requests

Rediff.com19 hours ago

'I suspect that Bangladesh being given permission stuck in India's official craw, and this story was an attempt to balance the scales by giving the impression that a similar waiver had been given to India as well.'

Centre to evacuate Indians from Gulf; IndiGo to operate 10 Jeddah flights

Centre to evacuate Indians from Gulf; IndiGo to operate 10 Jeddah flights

Rediff.com3 Mar 2026

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi assures that the Indian government is prepared to bring back Indians stranded in the Gulf region due to the Iran-Israel conflict and disruptions in Dubai, emphasizing citizen safety as the top priority.

Madhya Pradesh Teacher Arrested for Molestation

Madhya Pradesh Teacher Arrested for Molestation

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

A government primary school teacher in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district has been arrested after being accused of molesting three young girls.

Biotechnology Facility Foundation Laid in Thiruvananthapuram

Biotechnology Facility Foundation Laid in Thiruvananthapuram

Rediff.com1 Mar 2026

Union Minister Jitendra Singh inaugurated a new biotechnology facility and dedicated a national facility for recombinant cells and sensors at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology in Thiruvananthapuram, highlighting India's focus on biotechnology and its potential for economic growth.

NCERT textbook row: Govt promises action after SC ban

NCERT textbook row: Govt promises action after SC ban

Rediff.com26 Feb 2026

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has expressed strong disapproval of a chapter in an NCERT Class 8 textbook addressing judicial corruption, prompting government action and a Supreme Court ban on the book's circulation.

Kerala's KITE Launches 'Cyber Safety Protocol 2026' for Schools

Kerala's KITE Launches 'Cyber Safety Protocol 2026' for Schools

Rediff.com5 days ago

Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE) has published the 'Cyber Safety Protocol 2026' to ensure a secure digital learning environment and robust cyber defences for students in Kerala's public school system.

Shirtless protest at AI Summit: Another Youth Cong worker held, total arrests 5

Shirtless protest at AI Summit: Another Youth Cong worker held, total arrests 5

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

Delhi Police made a fifth arrest in the AI Impact Summit shirtless protest case, as investigations continue into the political demonstration against the government and the India-US trade deal.

Tremors trigger panic in Kolkata after quake in Bangladesh

Tremors trigger panic in Kolkata after quake in Bangladesh

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

Earthquake tremors were felt in Kolkata and adjacent districts of West Bengal after a 5.5 magnitude earthquake jolted parts of Bangladesh. People rushed out of buildings in panic, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Iran hits American embassy in Riyadh, US pulls staff

Iran hits American embassy in Riyadh, US pulls staff

Rediff.com3 Mar 2026

The US Embassy acknowledged the attack in a post on X, urging Americans to avoid the facility 'until further notice' and announcing that all appointments had been cancelled.

CDSCO allows immediate lab testing of drugs to speed up approvals

CDSCO allows immediate lab testing of drugs to speed up approvals

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

The Centre has allowed companies to begin lab testing immediately after filing applications instead of waiting for detailed scrutiny, in a move to expedite approvals for manufacture, or import of new drugs.

Sonia slams Centre's silence on Khamenei's killing

Sonia slams Centre's silence on Khamenei's killing

Rediff.com3 Mar 2026

Sonia Gandhi has criticised the Modi government's silence on the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, arguing it raises doubts about India's foreign policy direction and credibility.

Kerala VACB Registers 818 Corruption Cases in Five Years

Kerala VACB Registers 818 Corruption Cases in Five Years

Rediff.com28 Feb 2026

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) in Kerala has registered 818 corruption-related cases over the past five years, marking a significant effort to combat corruption through strengthened surveillance, advanced technology, and increased public participation.

Bill Gates to visit Andhra on Monday for talks with Chandrababu Naidu

Bill Gates to visit Andhra on Monday for talks with Chandrababu Naidu

Rediff.com15 Feb 2026

Microsoft founder Bill Gates is scheduled to visit Amaravati to discuss expanding cooperation with Andhra Pradesh in health and artificial intelligence initiatives with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

SC takes cognisance of NCERT class 8 chapter on corruption in judiciary

SC takes cognisance of NCERT class 8 chapter on corruption in judiciary

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

The Supreme Court has initiated suo motu action regarding an NCERT class 8 textbook that references corruption in the judiciary, raising concerns about potential defamation and the integrity of the judicial system.

SC aks govt to protect, compensate vulnerable cyber victims

SC aks govt to protect, compensate vulnerable cyber victims

Rediff.com16 Feb 2026

The Supreme Court has directed the government to raise awareness, compensate, and protect vulnerable individuals who have lost money in cyber scams. The court's remarks came while granting bail to an accused in a cybercrime case, emphasizing the need for public education and cybersecurity awareness.

Man Held in Massive GST Fraud Case

Man Held in Massive GST Fraud Case

Rediff.com28 Feb 2026

The Uttar Pradesh STF has arrested a man in connection with a Goods and Services Tax (GST) fraud estimated at Rs 15,000 crore. The accused allegedly used fraudulently obtained GST registrations to create fake firms and generate bogus invoices.

Defence stocks gain amid West Asia crisis

Defence stocks gain amid West Asia crisis

Rediff.com4 Mar 2026

Even as the benchmark and broader indices were down sharply on Monday due to escalating tensions in West Asia, the Nifty Defence index ended the session in the green.

WATCH: Lara Dutta's Tear-Stained Plea From Dubai

WATCH: Lara Dutta's Tear-Stained Plea From Dubai

Rediff.com5 Mar 2026

'No civilian deserves to live in fear. No civilian deserves to be caught up in a war which is destabilising the entire region.'

Delhi HC Pulls Up IOA In Winter Olympics Selection Row

Delhi HC Pulls Up IOA In Winter Olympics Selection Row

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

Delhi High Court allows skier Manjeet to initiate contempt proceedings against an IOA official over alleged misquoting of court order in Winter Olympics selection row.

Google has full-stack connectivity in India: Sundar Pichai

Google has full-stack connectivity in India: Sundar Pichai

Rediff.com18 Feb 2026

Google CEO Sundar Pichai on Wednesday said India is poised for an "extraordinary trajectory" in artificial intelligence and emphasised the company's commitment to partnering in the country's AI transformation.

Ajit Pawar hailed as 'best CM never had' as Maha leaders unite in tribute

Ajit Pawar hailed as 'best CM never had' as Maha leaders unite in tribute

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

Maharashtra's political leaders, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, paid tribute to the late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar during the state legislature's budget session, remembering him as a capable leader and administrator.

How Did a 590 Crore Fraud Go Undetected At IDFC First Bank?

How Did a 590 Crore Fraud Go Undetected At IDFC First Bank?

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

The quantum of fraud detected by the bank is more than the 503 crore net profit it reported for the October-December quarter of 2025-2026.

Supreme Court Grants Bail in Pune Porsche Crash Case

Supreme Court Grants Bail in Pune Porsche Crash Case

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

The Supreme Court has granted bail to a doctor arrested for allegedly tampering with blood samples in the Pune Porsche crash case, where a minor is accused of killing two people.

Waaree Energies, Premier Energies in Focus as US Imposes 126% Duty on Indian Solar Imports

Waaree Energies, Premier Energies in Focus as US Imposes 126% Duty on Indian Solar Imports

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

Shares of Waaree Energies and Premier Energies are under pressure after the US imposed initial duties on Indian solar imports. The article examines the impact on green energy stocks and market sentiment.

Iran strikes US military base in Bahrain

Iran strikes US military base in Bahrain

Rediff.com28 Feb 2026

The Iranian embassy also posted a video purportedly showing the aftermath of the strike, with plumes of smoke visible.

AI Summit protest: 4 Youth Cong workers held, police suspect plot

AI Summit protest: 4 Youth Cong workers held, police suspect plot

Rediff.com21 Feb 2026

Delhi Police arrested four Indian Youth Congress workers for staging a shirtless protest at the AI Impact Summit venue, with officials investigating a potential wider conspiracy.