News for 'government reforms'

How India measured inflation, and what is set to change

How India measured inflation, and what is set to change

Rediff.com19 Feb 2026

India's main inflation measure, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is set for another major update, even though it has been in its current form for only about 15 years.

Budget 2026: Prez Murmu offers 'Dahi-Cheeni' to Sitharaman

Budget 2026: Prez Murmu offers 'Dahi-Cheeni' to Sitharaman

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Sitharaman continues with the tradition she set in 2019, carrying the budget speech in a 'bahi-khata', which she used after dropping the briefcase tradition.

'Global Uncertainties Are Of A Magnitude We've Never Seen Before'

'Global Uncertainties Are Of A Magnitude We've Never Seen Before'

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

'Global uncertainty is something which definitely occupies the minds of officials when we are preparing for the Budget.'

National Sports Governance Bill becomes an Act

National Sports Governance Bill becomes an Act

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

The National Sports Governance Bill has become an Act after President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the landmark legislation that promises to revamp India's sports administration.

Industry confidence hits five-qtr high in Oct-Dec: CII survey

Industry confidence hits five-qtr high in Oct-Dec: CII survey

Rediff.com19 Jan 2026

Business confidence in India Inc rose to a five-quarter high in December quarter of FY26, amid further reform expectations and steady domestic demand, a survey by industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) showed. The CII Business Confidence Index (BCI) rose for the third consecutive quarter to 66.5 in the December quarter from 66 in the preceding September quarter.

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.

Ambitious, futuristic: PM Modi lauds Sitharaman's 9th Budget

Ambitious, futuristic: PM Modi lauds Sitharaman's 9th Budget

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Reiterating Sitharaman's statement that this is a youth power budget, Modi emphasised that the provisions made in the budget will prepare leaders, innovators and creators across different sectors.

Sri Lanka fails to address sexual violence against Tamil civilians: UN

Sri Lanka fails to address sexual violence against Tamil civilians: UN

Rediff.com15 Jan 2026

A UN report highlights the lack of justice for Tamil civilians who experienced sexual violence during Sri Lanka's civil war, primarily by security forces.

Phase out universal subsidies: ADB-PwC study to 16th FC

Phase out universal subsidies: ADB-PwC study to 16th FC

Rediff.com16 Feb 2026

Governments should move away from universal subsidies towards tightly targeted transfers, backed by stricter eligibility norms, sunset clauses and periodic audits to curb leakages and improve spending efficiency, a joint study by Asian Development Bank and PwC has recommended.

War In The Strait Of Hormuz Has Landed On A Tawa In Mumbai

War In The Strait Of Hormuz Has Landed On A Tawa In Mumbai

Rediff.com2 Apr 2026

The LPG squeeze on India's restaurant sector is the quotidian face of a deeper crisis.

Railways Set for Rs 2.7 Trillion Budget

Railways Set for Rs 2.7 Trillion Budget

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

There is a minimum requirement of Rs 2.5 trillion capital expenditure every year and it is understood at the highest levels of the government.

Debt Recovery Overhaul Likely In Budget

Debt Recovery Overhaul Likely In Budget

Rediff.com19 Jan 2026

The Centre is considering amendments to the Recovery of Debt and Bankruptcy Act in the Budget to allow some Debt Recovery Tribunals to focus only on high-value cases.

Budget 2026: 'Increased Industrialisation Will Lead To More Jobs'

Budget 2026: 'Increased Industrialisation Will Lead To More Jobs'

Rediff.com28 Jan 2026

'The trade deficit in some sectors is huge and that is an area of opportunity to localise.'

Israeli opposition threatens to boycott Modi's address to Parliament

Israeli opposition threatens to boycott Modi's address to Parliament

Rediff.com22 Feb 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Israel is facing political complications as opposition leader Yair Lapid threatens to boycott his parliamentary address unless the Supreme Court chief is invited, adhering to standard protocol.

UP engineer, wife get death penalty for sexually abusing 33 children

UP engineer, wife get death penalty for sexually abusing 33 children

Rediff.com20 Feb 2026

During the probe, it was found that Ram Bhawan, a resident of Naraini town in Banda district, had been living in a rented room in Chitrakoot district where the offences were committed, with his wife allegedly assisting him, the agency said.

India a messenger of peace: President Murmu in R-Day eve address

India a messenger of peace: President Murmu in R-Day eve address

Rediff.com25 Jan 2026

President Droupadi Murmu addressed the nation on the eve of Republic Day, emphasising India's role in promoting peace, the empowerment of women, and the country's economic growth.

Karnataka DGP Ramachandra Rao suspended over viral video

Karnataka DGP Ramachandra Rao suspended over viral video

Rediff.com20 Jan 2026

Rao acted in an "obscene manner which is unbecoming of a government servant and also caused embarrassment to the government", his suspension order read.

Budget 2026: Key numbers to be watched

Budget 2026: Key numbers to be watched

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

Here are the key numbers to watch out for in the Union Budget for 2025-26:

Budget hollow, directionless; ignoring people's hardships: Opposition

Budget hollow, directionless; ignoring people's hardships: Opposition

Rediff.com1 Feb 2026

The Congress party has strongly criticized the Union Budget, calling it 'lacklustre' and 'disappointing,' claiming it fails to address the needs of farmers, unemployed youth, and other key sectors.

Modi-Trump Call: 'Headwind Becomes Tailwind': FM

Modi-Trump Call: 'Headwind Becomes Tailwind': FM

Rediff.com5 Feb 2026

The finance minister said that consolidation of state-owned banks could proceed at any time without waiting for the recommendations of the proposed high-level committee on banking.

Budget 2026: The Industry Wishlist...

Budget 2026: The Industry Wishlist...

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

Investors and startup executives are calling for extending the period for an entity to be recognised as a startup from 10 to 15 years for deep-tech companies.

Is The Dubai Dream Over?

Is The Dubai Dream Over?

Rediff.com4 Mar 2026

Dubai's core promise -- that it is an oasis untouched by regional storms -- has been tested in full public view. The coming months will show whether investors view the attacks as a short-lived disruption or a deeper signal of lasting risk, points out Asif Ullah Khan.

Budget 2026 backs jobs, tech and capital markets

Budget 2026 backs jobs, tech and capital markets

Rediff.com4 Feb 2026

The Budget emerges as a measured, credible and forward-looking policy document that reinforces India's commitment to remaining a stable, reform-oriented economy amid an increasingly fragmented global landscape, says A Balasubramanian.

Maharashtra's Saundala village declares itself 'caste-free'

Maharashtra's Saundala village declares itself 'caste-free'

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

Saundala village in Maharashtra's Ahilyanagar district has passed a resolution declaring itself 'caste-free' to eliminate discrimination and promote equality.

Budget 2026: Is Customs Amnesty Scheme On The Cards?

Budget 2026: Is Customs Amnesty Scheme On The Cards?

Rediff.com7 Jan 2026

Total pending Customs arrears, including amounts under litigation, court stays and cases where the appeal period has not expired, stood at about Rs 1.36 trillion at the end of December 2024.

Cheaper Harleys Likely To Test Enfield's Pricing Power

Cheaper Harleys Likely To Test Enfield's Pricing Power

Rediff.com19 Feb 2026

The tariff removal will lower prices of Harley's large-displacement imported motorcycles, which retail between 14.5 lakh and 45.8 lakh but after the duty cut volumes are expected to remain modest.

Skeptics fear manipulation as Bangladesh goes to polls

Skeptics fear manipulation as Bangladesh goes to polls

Rediff.com12 Feb 2026

Political analysts express skepticism about the upcoming Bangladesh general election, citing concerns over manipulation, voter participation, and the influence of money and muscle in the changed political landscape.

GST reforms will cause Rs 3,700 crore revenue loss to govt: SBI report

GST reforms will cause Rs 3,700 crore revenue loss to govt: SBI report

Rediff.com5 Sep 2025

The State Bank of India (SBI) in its latest research report said that reforms in GST through reduction in rates will cause a minimal revenue loss of Rs 3,700 crore. The government estimates the net fiscal impact of GST rates rationalisation will be Rs 48,000 crore on an annualised basis.

India making strong efforts to host 2036 Olympics: Modi

India making strong efforts to host 2036 Olympics: Modi

Rediff.com4 Jan 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that India is preparing with full strength to host the 2036 Olympic Games.

NEET-EWS Quota: How A 19 Yr Old Won A Supreme Court Case

NEET-EWS Quota: How A 19 Yr Old Won A Supreme Court Case

Rediff.com23 Feb 2026

'My argument was straightforward: If the Constitution allows this reservation and SC/ST and OBC candidates are already getting reservation in private institutions -- backed by Constitution Bench orders -- then not extending the same to EWS candidates directly violates the 103rd Amendment and Article 14, which guarantees the right to equality.'

A long-game Budget

A long-game Budget

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

The Union Budget for 2026-27, presented by Finance Minister (FM) Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, which was a first, had an excellent domestic macro backdrop. According to the first advance estimates, gross domestic product (GDP) in constant prices is projected to grow 7.4 per cent in the current financial year, against 6.5 per cent in 2024-25.

Active banking funds fail to capitalise on PSU rally: Value Research data

Active banking funds fail to capitalise on PSU rally: Value Research data

Rediff.com29 Nov 2025

Sectoral funds, focused exclusively on public sector banks (PSBs), have delivered the strongest returns among domestic mutual fund (MF) categories over the past six months. However, active banking funds have significantly lagged because of their heavy tilt towards private lenders.

Tarique Rahman's remarkable turnaround from 17-year self-exile

Tarique Rahman's remarkable turnaround from 17-year self-exile

Rediff.com17 Feb 2026

Tarique Rahman, after 17 years in self-exile, has led the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to a significant victory, becoming the country's Prime Minister. This marks a major turnaround for the BNP after years of being targeted by the Awami League government.

India's GDP Grows 7.8% in Q3 Under New Series; beats estimate

India's GDP Grows 7.8% in Q3 Under New Series; beats estimate

Rediff.com27 Feb 2026

India's economy experienced a growth of 7.8 per cent during the October-December quarter of 2025-26, according to the new series of national accounts with 2022-23 as the base year.

Govt open to debate on SIR, but don't insist timeline, Rijiju tells Oppn

Govt open to debate on SIR, but don't insist timeline, Rijiju tells Oppn

Rediff.com1 Dec 2025

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated the government is open to discussing electoral reforms in the Rajya Sabha, urging the Opposition not to impose a timeline. Opposition parties staged a walkout after demanding an immediate discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

BNP nears clear victory in Bangladesh polls, set to form govt

BNP nears clear victory in Bangladesh polls, set to form govt

Rediff.com13 Feb 2026

The voting for the 13th parliamentary elections was held along with a referendum on a complex 84-point reform package.

Hybrids outpace petrol, EVs for buyers, shows survey

Hybrids outpace petrol, EVs for buyers, shows survey

Rediff.com17 Oct 2025

Grant Thornton Bharat's latest survey indicates that hybrids are set to consolidate market share this festive season, bridging the gap between conventional petrol engines and the emerging electric vehicle segment.

Bangladesh to hold crucial general elections on Thursday

Bangladesh to hold crucial general elections on Thursday

Rediff.com11 Feb 2026

Bangladesh is set to hold parliamentary elections with unprecedented security measures in place, following a period of interim governance and political changes.

Inflation may stay benign: RBI deputy guv

Inflation may stay benign: RBI deputy guv

Rediff.com25 Feb 2026

India's retail inflation, which has stayed below the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) 4 per cent target in recent times, is likely to remain benign in the coming months, RBI Deputy Governor Poonam Gupta said in a speech, on Friday, which was uploaded on the central bank's website on Tuesday. Headline inflation dipped to multi-year lows of around 1.5-2.8 per cent in late 2025.

The Jail Where Nicolas Maduro Is Imprisoned

The Jail Where Nicolas Maduro Is Imprisoned

Rediff.com8 Jan 2026

Well-known inmates of the notorious Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn, New York.