News for 'government mandate'

EC tells SC it has power to conduct SIR of electoral rolls

EC tells SC it has power to conduct SIR of electoral rolls

Rediff.com6 Jan 2026

The Election Commission (EC) defended its power to revise electoral rolls and ensure no foreigners are registered as voters before the Supreme Court. The EC argued it has a constitutional duty to maintain the purity of electoral rolls and exclude those not eligible to vote.

Indian football shake-up: ISL clubs want full control

Indian football shake-up: ISL clubs want full control

Rediff.com19 Dec 2025

Indian Super League (ISL) clubs on Friday formally proposed a fundamental restructuring of the country's top-tier professional football league, seeking perpetual operational and commercial rights for a club-owned league model while retaining the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as the sport's regulator.

Users can delete Sanchar Saathi, registration optional: Govt

Users can delete Sanchar Saathi, registration optional: Govt

Rediff.com2 Dec 2025

Days after his ministry told smartphone makers to preload a state-run cybersecurity app on all new devices, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday said users are free to delete the Sanchar Saathi app, and it will remain dormant till they register on it.

Time To Elect, Not Select Governors

Time To Elect, Not Select Governors

Rediff.com1 Dec 2025

In a federal democracy, the people must have a say (indirect or direct) in an office as important as that of governor. Especially in a governor who can now effectively veto a bill by simply refusing to sign it, argues Harishchandra.

RBI trims rate by 25bps to 5.25%; loans to get cheaper

RBI trims rate by 25bps to 5.25%; loans to get cheaper

Rediff.com5 Dec 2025

Shrugging off concerns over the depreciation of rupee, the RBI has cut interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent in a bid to further bolster economic growth, which rose to a six-quarter high of 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of the current financial year.

Home, auto loans to get cheaper as RBI cuts interest rate

Home, auto loans to get cheaper as RBI cuts interest rate

Rediff.com5 Dec 2025

Shrugging off concerns over the depreciation of rupee, the RBI has cut interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 per cent in a bid to further bolster economic growth, which rose to a six-quarter high of 8.2 per cent in the second quarter of the current financial year.

Centre restarts MGNREGA in West Bengal, but conditions apply

Centre restarts MGNREGA in West Bengal, but conditions apply

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

After a gap of more than three years, the central government has agreed to resume the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) works in West Bengal with immediate effect, but subject to mandatory adherence to stringent conditions. These include a prohibition on any work valued at more than 20 lakh, compulsory 100 per cent electronic know-your-customer (eKYC) verification of all workers, and mandatory pre-estimation field visits for all works before they are undertaken.

I bow to people, says Nitish; thanks Modi, allies

I bow to people, says Nitish; thanks Modi, allies

Rediff.com14 Nov 2025

Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United supremo Nitish Kumar on Friday thanked people of the state for giving a 'landslide' victory for the ruling National Democratic Alliance in the assembly polls.

Will 1600 Number Stop Scam Calls?

Will 1600 Number Stop Scam Calls?

Rediff.com20 Nov 2025

Trai has ordered BFSI firms to move service and transaction calls to the 1600 series from 2026 to reduce spam, financial fraud, and rising digital arrest scams.

Rigged, biased, distasteful: Hasina reacts to death penalty

Rigged, biased, distasteful: Hasina reacts to death penalty

Rediff.com17 Nov 2025

Sheikh Hasina, sentenced to death in absentia in Bangladesh, denounces the tribunal as biased and rigged, claiming the verdict reveals the murderous intent of extremist figures within the interim government.

G RAM-G replaces MGNREGA after President's assent

G RAM-G replaces MGNREGA after President's assent

Rediff.com21 Dec 2025

President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, which aims to replace MGNREGA and guarantee 125 days of wage employment per rural household.

Stricter safeguards on cards for life funds

Stricter safeguards on cards for life funds

Rediff.com16 Dec 2025

The government has circulated among members ofParliament a new draft of the Amendment of Insurance laws Bill, 2025, proposing stricter safeguards on the utilisation of life insurance funds and other specified insurance business funds, particularly for dividend payouts, bonuses, and servicing of debentures.

Nitish 2.0: 16 ministers from BJP, 14 from JD-U. Here are the names

Nitish 2.0: 16 ministers from BJP, 14 from JD-U. Here are the names

Rediff.com17 Nov 2025

NDA partners engage in intense lobbying to finalize cabinet berths ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bihar government led by Nitish Kumar. The new cabinet is expected to include fresh faces from BJP and JD(U), along with representation from smaller alliance partners.

CIA, Mossad plotted 2014 LS poll defeat, claims Cong leader

CIA, Mossad plotted 2014 LS poll defeat, claims Cong leader

Rediff.com27 Nov 2025

'It was then that the game started. It was decided that under no circumstances, the seat tally of the Congress should increase from 206 in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls'

How Operation Sindoor Changed Security Doctrine

How Operation Sindoor Changed Security Doctrine

Rediff.com13 Jan 2026

'Some success has been achieved in raising the costs of terrorism for Pakistan.'

'Will definitely quit if...': PK alleges 'vote chori' in Bihar

'Will definitely quit if...': PK alleges 'vote chori' in Bihar

Rediff.com18 Nov 2025

Jan Suraaj Party leader Prashant Kishor on Tuesday claimed that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal-United would have been bundled up with just 25 seats had his government not given Rs 10,000 to 60,000 beneficiaries in each constituency just before the assembly elections and promised Rs 2 lakh to 1.5 crore women across the state under self-employment initiatives.

Messi event fiasco: Mamata accepts sports minister's resignation

Messi event fiasco: Mamata accepts sports minister's resignation

Rediff.com17 Dec 2025

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accepted Aroop Biswas's resignation as the sports minister in the wake of the controversy over the mismanagement of football icon Lionel Messi's event last week, a senior leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress said.

Corporate Ministry Seeks Cabinet OK For 50 NCLT Courts

Corporate Ministry Seeks Cabinet OK For 50 NCLT Courts

Rediff.com19 Dec 2025

Various stakeholders told the committee that there is a need for expanding judicial capacity or restructuring the adjudicatory process by increasing the number of benches and also enhancing financial allocation for improvement of infrastructure.

Sidda stands firm as Shivakumar reminds Cong of the 'word'

Sidda stands firm as Shivakumar reminds Cong of the 'word'

Rediff.com27 Nov 2025

The tug-of-war between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar over the CM post turned into a war of words on Thursday as the two faced off over keeping up a promise.

BJP questions K'taka govt over video of namaaz at airport

BJP questions K'taka govt over video of namaaz at airport

Rediff.com10 Nov 2025

A viral video purportedly showing a group of people offering namaaz at Terminal-2 of the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru has ignited a political controversy, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party taking strong exception to the incident and demanding accountability from the state government.

Blow to climate action, US exits 66 global cooperation bodies

Blow to climate action, US exits 66 global cooperation bodies

Rediff.com8 Jan 2026

President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from over 60 international organisations, including United Nations bodies and the India-France-led International Solar Alliance, calling the institutions 'redundant' and 'contrary' to America's interests.

Convicted Maha minister Manikrao Kokate resigns from Cabinet

Convicted Maha minister Manikrao Kokate resigns from Cabinet

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

Nationalist Congress Party minister Manikrao Kokate has resigned from the Maharashtra Cabinet after a court upheld his conviction and two-year jail term in a 1995 cheating and forgery case. This marks the second NCP minister to resign this year.

Trade unions to go on strike in Feb, demand withdrawal of labour codes

Trade unions to go on strike in Feb, demand withdrawal of labour codes

Rediff.com9 Dec 2025

Trade unions have decided to launch a phased, consistent struggle to press for the withdrawal of the labour codes and go on a countrywide general strike in February next year, a statement said on Tuesday. The date of the strike will be announced on 22nd December 2025 in the next meeting of the joint forum of central trade unions, a statement said.

Woman lawyer alleges sexual assault in police custody; SC issues notice

Woman lawyer alleges sexual assault in police custody; SC issues notice

Rediff.com19 Dec 2025

The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre, Uttar Pradesh government and others on a plea filed by a woman advocate alleging illegal detention and custodial sexual assault at a police station in Noida.

Was Maduro's Capture A Warning Shot To China?

Was Maduro's Capture A Warning Shot To China?

Rediff.com24 Jan 2026

China has made serious inroads into Latin America, which the US may now be hinting is simply not ok: Stay in your lane, Xi! In simple terms, China will no longer have access to Venezuelan oil, points out Rajeev Srinivasan.

Congress MP moves adjournment notice over Sanchar Saathi app

Congress MP moves adjournment notice over Sanchar Saathi app

Rediff.com2 Dec 2025

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury has filed an adjournment motion in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the government's directive on pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi App in new mobile handsets, citing privacy concerns.

The Blasphemous Idea Dhurandhar Promotes

The Blasphemous Idea Dhurandhar Promotes

Rediff.com16 Dec 2025

Dhurandhar's most dangerous idea is that Director Aditya Dhar envisions an Indian state run by a deep state -- an intelligence machinery not accountable to Parliament, courts, or voters. A future political system where unelected officials decide when Indian democracy is 'fit' to function, observes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

'G RAM G Isn't A National Employment Guarantee Law'

'G RAM G Isn't A National Employment Guarantee Law'

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

'MGNREGA was about a guaranteed right to work.' 'The new law does not guarantee employment at all.' 'It removes everything that made MGNREGA a legal guarantee.'

How Trump's Rules Are Killing American Tourism

How Trump's Rules Are Killing American Tourism

Rediff.com25 Dec 2025

'America has historically been a magnet for people who aren't from here.' 'That sort of thing -- the promise of opportunity, no matter what that looks like -- doesn't grow on trees.' 'It also happens to be geopolitical gold that Trump is flushing down the toilet,' points out Sree Sreenivasan.

The Dangers Of Sanchar Snoop

The Dangers Of Sanchar Snoop

Rediff.com6 Dec 2025

Once the OS layer is opened to the State, it doesn't close, notes Lieutenant General Prakash Katoch (retd).

Need clear timelines for NCLAT to dispose of appeals: Panel on IBC Bill

Need clear timelines for NCLAT to dispose of appeals: Panel on IBC Bill

Rediff.com18 Dec 2025

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) Amendment Bill 2025 has failed to introduce specific timelines for the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) to dispose of appeals, the select committee on the IBC Bill has said in its report.

Sebi takes measures to deepen investors' participation in capital market

Sebi takes measures to deepen investors' participation in capital market

Rediff.com17 Dec 2025

Markets regulator Sebi board on Wednesday approved a series of measures aimed at improving investor convenience, easing compliance norms, and deepening participation in the capital and debt markets.

Goa Fire Exposes EPFO Oversight Gaps

Goa Fire Exposes EPFO Oversight Gaps

Rediff.com13 Dec 2025

'The tragedy underscored 'serious and widespread' weaknesses in the EPFO's monitoring system and its ability to detect and act against defaulting establishments.'

'Ministry Slept, DGCA Slept, IndiGo...'

'Ministry Slept, DGCA Slept, IndiGo...'

Rediff.com11 Dec 2025

'IndiGo will receive a sharp rap on the knuckles -- a punishment, a huge penalty. 'I look towards them creating a compensation fund.' 'I would like to think they would do that for all the passengers who are affected on every single day since cancellations began.'

'Creators told not to restrict AI content, only to label it'

'Creators told not to restrict AI content, only to label it'

Rediff.com23 Oct 2025

The government is not seeking to control or restrict online content but rather to ensure transparency by requiring creators to label AI-generated content so that audiences can make informed choices, Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan said on Thursday.

Tax forms for charitable institutions set for overhaul

Tax forms for charitable institutions set for overhaul

Rediff.com4 Dec 2025

As the new Income Tax (I-T) Act, 2025 moves towards implementation from April 1, 2026, the finance ministry is reviewing and simplifying the compliance forms used by charitable institutions. Debjyoti Das, principal chief commissioner of income tax (exemption), said the new Act has already reorganised exemption provisions into a clearer and more coherent structure, and the accompanying procedures and forms are now being examined.

Make demergers tax-neutral, biz houses nudge govt

Make demergers tax-neutral, biz houses nudge govt

Rediff.com26 Nov 2025

Ahead of the Union Budget 2026-27, Indian business houses have urged the government to make demergers tax-neutral, particularly in cases involving transfer of investments in associate companies with 25 per cent or more shareholding, under the new Income Tax Act. This may possibly help some companies planning to go public, according to a source.

Is Hemant Soren weighing a political turn towards the BJP?

Is Hemant Soren weighing a political turn towards the BJP?

Rediff.com3 Dec 2025

Speculation intensifies regarding a potential political shake-up in Jharkhand's ruling coalition, fueled by strained relations between JMM, RJD, and Congress, and Chief Minister Hemant Soren's Delhi visits. Both JMM and Congress have denied the claims.

Centre probes GPS spoofing after alerts from 7 major airports

Centre probes GPS spoofing after alerts from 7 major airports

Rediff.com1 Dec 2025

The Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital is the country's busiest airport and RWY refers to runway.

Ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death

Ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death

Rediff.com17 Nov 2025

Bangladesh's deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia by a special tribunal for crimes against humanity committed during protests against her government.