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Condusive climate across states is crucial for manufacturing growth.
BJP strategists know it may not repeat its 2014 performance in its traditionally strong bases in the north and the west. This is where the success in the north east and east is so important.
Gandhi attacked the government over its 'maximum governance' slogan, saying this also meant expanding the base of disagreement without inviting retribution, a reference to its crackdown on several non-governmental organisations.
It is as much about farmer woes and the lack of job opportunities as about the mixing of religion and politics.
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The Bharatiya Janata Party government at the Centre is firmly committed to ensure security all Northeast states said Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a large gathering of BJP workers at the Sarusajai National Games stadium in Guwahati.
'It's not only holy reverence that drives them to such vigilantism -- there is adventure too.' 'Some of the younger gau rakshaks enjoy the thrill of the chase: Stopping vehicles, wielding weapons, badgering passengers and then gloating.'
Ravinder, 32, was thrashed by around 12 men after he objected to two of them peeing on the road.
'Scindia's willingness to consort with the BJP, a party he has rightly, and eloquently, excoriated in various speeches and statements in the recent past suggest a shallowness and hollowness of convictions and principles.'
'When I was young, I used to look around the village we lived in.' 'There was a lack of resources -- no proper health centres and schools.' 'I felt that becoming an IAS officer would help solve those issues.'
Alleging that Modi has launched a "big assault" on the workers, a combative Gandhi vowed to fight their battle like the Congress did for the farmers on the land acquisition bill.
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Amid the top 20 states, Kerala is the only state which witnessed a surge in the proposed investments at 10 per cent with two projects worth over Rs 14,200 crore (Rs 142 billion).
'There is a certain irony embedded in this asymmetric geographical distribution of FDI because most state leaders have shed their inhibitions about promoting 'business' and have understood its virtues as a more cost-effective way of replacing the mai-baap welfarism that passed for economic policy till the early nineties', says Kanika Datta.
The logjam at the Delhi District Cricket Association is all set to end as 19 members of the all-powerful executive committee proposed the name of former India batsman Ajay Jadeja for the chief coach's post.
Maharashtra could become the gateway for the rest of the country.
India should emerge as the 'human resource capital' of the world as China has become a global 'manufacturing factory'.
BJP strategists need to remember even at this late hour that 'negativism' sells when you are in the Opposition as the Indian voter has mostly voted anti-incumbency, and not when you are in power. You still needed to highlight your achievements and promises, and let the voter draw his conclusions, says N Sathiya Moorthy.
Two months ago, May 2, Major Anuj Sood made the supreme sacrifice for the motherland in a hostage-rescue mission in J&K. As his grieving family grapples with their immense loss, they graciously share memories of the young major -- a husband, brother and son -- whose only calling was the fauj.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stirred up a hornet's nest when he said that 'if there is electricity during Ramzan, there should be electricity during Diwali too'. Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf speaks to Shailendra Dubey, chairman, All India Power Engineer's Federation, to ascertain the truth.
There have been several instances of traders dumping fruits and vegetables outside mandis. Or of farmers dumping produce outside their villages or feeding them to their animals.
Shops remained closed in some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for a few hours and internet services were restricted in sensitive areas to check 'rumour-mongering', but normal life remained largely unaffected
'Police officers have to meet Dalits and other communities, find out about issues that could lead to law and order problems.'
The railways was not intimated about a Dussehra event along the tracks that led to the deaths of at least 61 people in Amritsar.
'In UP, the CM actually announced that his administration would 'take revenge' against rioters.' 'That must have been music to his police force's ears for it substantiated what the police always do: Take revenge on an entire community for the violence of a few,' points out Jyoti Punwani.
It is bound to fail like the earlier ones, again causing Pakistan enormously more damage than to India, points out Shekhar Gupta.
'Younger children don't really distinguish based on class, gender, income and so on.'
After several years of travelling, Guru Nanak settled down at Kartarpur as a farmer. His followers were the first Sikhs of an order that was to prevail for many years to come. A fascinating excerpt from Sikh Heritage: A History of Valour and Devotion.
BJP's total silence on Delhi statehood is intriguing.
Reiterating his 'suit-boot ki sarkar' jibe, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a feku (a brag).
Calling on the world to embrace Yoga as a discipline in everyday life, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of the International Yoga Day today, asserted that the ancient Indian art was the most selfless of its kind, as it did not discriminate, did not ask for much, but simply functioned for the betterment of mankind and brought every society together.
Rediff.com speaks with performers to know their views about Make In India.
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.
Sukh Ram and Raja were charged with corruption during their tenure as telecom ministers. Sukh Ram was convicted while Raja has been acquitted. One had cash found under his bed; in the case of the other the trial judge mockingly asks: Where is the money? And if there's no money, where is the corruption? So, pronounced innocent. Sukh Ram is a Brahmin. 'Maybe he strayed just that one time, people like that aren't usually corrupt.' And Raja is a Dalit. 'Can you expect any better?' What race is in some places, caste is in India, says Shekhar Gupta.
The third and final part of BJP president Amit Shah's interview to Sheela Bhatt/Rediff.com.
Nondescript Bhiwani and Mahendragarh in Haryana, recently named part of the NCR, are likely to see developers queueing up soon and investors betting big on the new hubs.
Modi seems to have forgotten the solution to rising tomato prices he had in mind in 2014.
Delhi's air is a desperate problem, but some of the solutions have been too desperate and unthinking.
'Narsingh is a very senior wrestler and has done a fabulous job by sealing the Olympics berth.' 'But he needs to understand that the berth belongs to the country and not any individual.'
Glimpses of Republic Day celebrations across the country.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on range of issues -- from Rafale deal to Ram temple and triple talaq.
