News for 'indian citizenship'

New beginning: 186 Pak Hindu refugees cast first-ever votes in Delhi polls

New beginning: 186 Pak Hindu refugees cast first-ever votes in Delhi polls

Rediff.com5 Feb 2025

For the first time in their lives, 186 Pakistani Hindu refugees in Delhi cast their votes in the Delhi Assembly polls, marking a significant moment in their journey towards citizenship. Having received Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, they expressed hope for a better future with permanent homes and stable livelihoods. The refugees, who have lived in makeshift shelters and struggled with daily wage work for decades, felt a sense of belonging and empowerment after exercising their voting right.

'Shame students have to...': Trump's $1M 'Gold Card' unveiled

'Shame students have to...': Trump's $1M 'Gold Card' unveiled

Rediff.com11 Dec 2025

Trump described the Gold Card as a "Green Card, but much better, much more powerful, a much stronger path and a path is a big deal. Have to be great people, but much stronger path", which also helps companies.

Trump admin to fight lawsuits against H-1B fee hike

Trump admin to fight lawsuits against H-1B fee hike

Rediff.com24 Oct 2025

The US government will fight lawsuits aimed at blocking the USD 100,000 fee imposed on new H-1B visa petitions, asserting that the system was spammed with fraud and must be overhauled to prioritise American workers.

SC sets time limit for arguments in Delhi riots case

SC sets time limit for arguments in Delhi riots case

Rediff.com3 Dec 2025

The Supreme Court has directed lawyers for the accused in the February 2020 Delhi riots to restrict their oral arguments to 15 minutes, emphasizing the need for a time schedule. The court also addressed bail pleas from activists like Sharjeel Imam and Umar Khalid, while the Delhi Police maintained the riots were a pre-planned attack.

Bihar's Revision Of Voters List: What's Cooking?

Bihar's Revision Of Voters List: What's Cooking?

Rediff.com1 Jul 2025

'The Election Commission is conducting the National Register of Citizens in Bihar through the backdoor.'

Thousands of H-1B visa interviews deferred for social media review

Thousands of H-1B visa interviews deferred for social media review

Rediff.com10 Dec 2025

The US has postponed thousands of H-1B visa interviews in India, citing enhanced vetting measures including scrutiny of social media profiles. The delays are impacting applicants who were scheduled for interviews from December 15 onwards, with new dates being pushed back by several months.

'The Soldiers Ordered Us To Be Strip-Searched'

'The Soldiers Ordered Us To Be Strip-Searched'

Rediff.com9 Jan 2026

'...including my baby sisters, age three and one.' 'My dad was humiliated, and he started screaming at them.'

Kargil veteran's kin allege harassment by Hindutva activists

Kargil veteran's kin allege harassment by Hindutva activists

Rediff.com30 Jul 2025

Family members of a Kargil war veteran in Pune allege harassment and demands for citizenship proof by a Hindutva group, accusing them of being Bangladeshis. Police deny a large group barged into the house, but confirm document verification.

'CAA protects Islam from...': MHA seeks to allay fears of Indian Muslims

'CAA protects Islam from...': MHA seeks to allay fears of Indian Muslims

Rediff.com12 Mar 2024

The Union home ministry on Tuesday asserted that Indian Muslims need not worry as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will not impact their citizenship and has nothing to do with the community which enjoys equal rights as their Hindu counterparts.

Feud erupts in Matua head family in Bengal; BJP uneasy

Feud erupts in Matua head family in Bengal; BJP uneasy

Rediff.com25 Aug 2025

A family feud within the politically influential Matua community has erupted between Union minister Shantanu Thakur and his brother, BJP MLA Subrata Thakur, creating ripples in West Bengal's political landscape and posing a challenge for the BJP ahead of upcoming elections.

Indian IT Cos Feel H-1B Heat

Indian IT Cos Feel H-1B Heat

Rediff.com6 Sep 2025

'It is good to have the H1-B visa option but if tomorrow things happen to change, it is not the end of the world situation.'

AIFF keen to tap OCI players under new policy

AIFF keen to tap OCI players under new policy

Rediff.com5 Jul 2025

'This is a positive statement of intent and the AIFF will continue to work with FIFA and the government to do all things possible to strengthen the national team.'

Happy 90th, Tully Sahab!

Happy 90th, Tully Sahab!

Rediff.com24 Oct 2025

10 things you must know about the most famous foreign correspondent in India who made Bharat his home.

Why rich Indians are heading for greener pastures

Why rich Indians are heading for greener pastures

Rediff.com24 Jul 2023

More Indians renounced their citizenship and took citizenship in other countries in 2022 than ever before, according to data. Answering multiple questions in Parliament - the last on March 31 this year - Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan told the Lok Sabha that more than 200,000 Indians gave up Indian citizenship in 2022. The question was asked by Congress Members of Parliament Kodikunnil Suresh and M K Raghavan, and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi.

Akshay Kumar becomes Indian citizen, shares proof

Akshay Kumar becomes Indian citizen, shares proof

Rediff.com15 Aug 2023

His citizenship status had come under intense scrutiny after he did not vote during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Assam Mourns Zubeen Garg

Assam Mourns Zubeen Garg

Rediff.com20 Sep 2025

According to Indian High Commissioner to Singapore Shilpak Ambule, Zubeen Garg had gone with 17 others on a yacht trip and died while 'swimming in the sea without a life jacket'.

Assault on democracy: Ex-bureaucrats raise concerns over Bihar SIR

Assault on democracy: Ex-bureaucrats raise concerns over Bihar SIR

Rediff.com30 Jul 2025

Over 90 former bureaucrats have expressed concern over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, alleging it could disenfranchise voters, particularly the poor and marginalized.

Trump's $100K H-1B visa hike hits Indian workers hard

Trump's $100K H-1B visa hike hits Indian workers hard

Rediff.com20 Sep 2025

The Trump administration has announced a massive increase in H-1B visa fees, imposing a $100,000 annual charge that will fundamentally alter how American companies hire skilled foreign workers, particularly impacting Indian IT professionals who comprise the largest group of beneficiaries.

Film Body Wants Diljit Dosanjh Banned; He Reacts

Film Body Wants Diljit Dosanjh Banned; He Reacts

Rediff.com24 Jun 2025

Amid a storm surrounding his collaboration with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh has taken to social media with a cryptic message.

Srini Gopalan named new CEO of T-Mobile

Srini Gopalan named new CEO of T-Mobile

Rediff.com24 Sep 2025

Indian-American executive Srini Gopalan has been appointed chief executive officer of telecom operator T-Mobile, amid ongoing debates over H-1B visa policies. Gopalan's appointment, effective from November 1, 2025, comes as US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation imposing a staggering $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, triggering widespread panic, concern and fear among Indian professionals on work visa.

We will be finally called Indian citizens: Pak Hindus

We will be finally called Indian citizens: Pak Hindus

Rediff.com11 Mar 2024

Pakistani Hindu refugees residing in Delhi expressed a sense of hope and relief on the implementation of the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act on Monday, saying they are elated they 'will be finally called Indian citizens'.

Trump's Language Of Fascism

Trump's Language Of Fascism

Rediff.com8 Dec 2025

'Non-compatible with Western Civilization' is about as vague and jingoistic as it gets and Trump saying this gives full license to his acolytes to go full throttle on making life as difficult and scary as possible for as many non-white people as possible,' notes Sree Sreenivasan.

Pak-born woman living in Odisha for 35 years gets notice to leave

Pak-born woman living in Odisha for 35 years gets notice to leave

Rediff.com26 Apr 2025

Sharada Kukreja, a Pakistani woman living in Odisha for 35 years after marrying an Indian citizen, has been served a notice to leave the country. She has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi to stop her deportation, citing her long-standing ties to India and family here. Sharada fled Pakistan to escape forced conversion and marriage, and despite having an Aadhaar card and participating in elections, she has not been granted Indian citizenship. The Odisha government has identified 12 Pakistani nationals residing in the state and asked them to leave by April 27. Another Pakistani woman in Bhubaneswar also received a country exit permit on Saturday.

50,000 Indians took US citizenship in 2017: Report

50,000 Indians took US citizenship in 2017: Report

Rediff.com19 Oct 2018

This is 4,000 more than 2016's figure of 46,188 Indian naturalisation and 8,000 more than 42,213 Indian citizenship in 2015.

Aadhaar alone cannot get one enrolled as voter: BJP

Aadhaar alone cannot get one enrolled as voter: BJP

Rediff.com24 Aug 2025

The BJP has accused the Opposition of spreading propaganda regarding the Supreme Court's stance on Aadhaar and voter enrollment in Bihar. The party asserts that the court did not state Aadhaar alone is sufficient for voter registration and that the Opposition is misrepresenting the ruling.

Pakistani Hindu refugees in Delhi fear deportation

Pakistani Hindu refugees in Delhi fear deportation

Rediff.com26 Apr 2025

Pakistani Hindu refugees residing in Delhi's Majnu Ka Tila are experiencing anxiety over their visa status despite government clarifications regarding Long Term Visas (LTVs). The government's decision to revoke all visas issued to Pakistani nationals, following heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, has left many refugees worried about their future. While LTVs for Hindu Pakistani nationals remain valid, the renewal process every two years and ongoing citizenship applications under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, have fueled concerns. The Delhi Police has initiated a verification drive, adding to the unease among the refugees, who fear being uprooted yet again. The article highlights the plight of these refugees, who have fled Pakistan seeking a better life in India, and the uncertainties they face in the current political climate.

Yamuna first: HC refuses to stop Majnu Ka Tila refugee camp demolition

Yamuna first: HC refuses to stop Majnu Ka Tila refugee camp demolition

Rediff.com2 Jun 2025

The court observed that protection of the floodplains aimed to secure the fundamental human right to a clean and healthy environment for Delhi residents and future generations.

65,960 Indians took American citizenship in 2022: Report

65,960 Indians took American citizenship in 2022: Report

Rediff.com22 Apr 2024

An estimated 46 million foreign-born persons resided in the United States in 2022, approximately 14 per cent of the total US population of 333 million, according to American Community Survey data from the US Census Bureau.

H-1B Visa: Which US Cities Topped Pay Scale?

H-1B Visa: Which US Cities Topped Pay Scale?

Rediff.com3 Oct 2025

Companies such as TCS, Infosys, Wipro and HCLTech usually have big centres in cities to be in proximity with their clients.

Indian woman forced to part with kids at border due to visa curbs

Indian woman forced to part with kids at border due to visa curbs

Rediff.com6 May 2025

Sana, an Indian woman married to a Pakistani doctor, was forced to hand over her two young children to their father at the Attari border due to visa restrictions imposed by the Indian government following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. Sana, who entered India on a 45-day visa, is unable to return to Pakistan as she is not yet a Pakistani citizen and the process could take another four years. The Indian government revoked the visas of Pakistani nationals on Short-Term Visas, leading to the separation of families at the border.

Govt must be given leeway to save nation: SC on Sec 6A of citizenship law

Govt must be given leeway to save nation: SC on Sec 6A of citizenship law

Rediff.com7 Dec 2023

Referring to section 6A of the Citizenship Act applicable exclusively to Assam, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said governments have to make compromises for the overall well-being of the nation.

Why was West Bengal not included in citizenship law's Sec 6, asks SC

Why was West Bengal not included in citizenship law's Sec 6, asks SC

Rediff.com7 Dec 2023

The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Centre and the Assam government to provide extensive data, including those on the number of Bangladeshi immigrants granted Indian citizenship in Assam between January 1, 1966 and March 25, 1971, while taking note of pleas that illegal immigration has impacted demography and cultural fabric of the border state.

Long struggle ends, new life begins: CAA beneficiaries

Long struggle ends, new life begins: CAA beneficiaries

Rediff.com15 May 2024

In Delhi, Kumar's family lives in the Majnu Ka Tila area and they are engaged in small-time business. He said a total of five people got Indian citizenship in his locality on Wednesday. Over a hundred had applied for it, he said.

Trump admin faces lawsuit over H-1B visa fee hike

Trump admin faces lawsuit over H-1B visa fee hike

Rediff.com17 Oct 2025

The US Chamber of Commerce has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration's decision to impose a USD 100,000 fee on new H-1B visa petitions, arguing it harms American innovation and competitiveness.

Why Educated Muslim Youth Join Terror Modules

Why Educated Muslim Youth Join Terror Modules

Rediff.com27 Nov 2025

Radical Islamist networks are deliberately targeting Muslim youths embedded within the country's professional and academic ecosystems, leveraging their skills, mobility, and digital reach to quietly strengthen operational capabilities. This trend highlights a dangerous evolution in terror recruitment -- one that exploits ideological faultlines, online echo chambers and transnational radical Islamist influences to attract individuals who outwardly embody India's modern and aspirational narrative, points out Dr Kanchan Lakshman.

Dream On... Viksit Bharat

Dream On... Viksit Bharat

Rediff.com27 Oct 2025

Can change happen? Not unless the changemakers themselves want it since they benefit the most from the status quo, warns Biswajit Dasgupta.

SIR showdown in Bengal: Mamata, BJP hold rallies

SIR showdown in Bengal: Mamata, BJP hold rallies

Rediff.com5 Nov 2025

Thousands of TMC supporters thronged the rally route, waving the party flags, raising slogans and holding aloft colourful posters.

SC defers hearing on bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam

SC defers hearing on bail pleas of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam

Rediff.com19 Sep 2025

The Supreme Court on Friday adjourned to September 22 the hearing on bail pleas of activists Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Gulfisha Fatima and Meeran Haider in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the February 2020 riots in Delhi.

'Where Are We Today, And Are We Moving Towards A Better Tomorrow?'

'Where Are We Today, And Are We Moving Towards A Better Tomorrow?'

Rediff.com16 Oct 2025

'You don't have to lose your identity to be part of Congress. You can be who you are, as long as you believe in the core principle of strong citizenry and nation-building through that concept'

No CAA: Pak, Bangla, Afghan minorities to get citizenship under old law

No CAA: Pak, Bangla, Afghan minorities to get citizenship under old law

Rediff.com1 Nov 2022

According to a Union home ministry notification, those Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians residing in the districts of Anand and Mehsana in Gujarat will be allowed registration as a citizen of India under Section 5 or will be granted certificate of naturalisation under section 6 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and in accordance with the provisions of the Citizenship Rules, 2009.