News for 'language policy'

BJP Barking Up The Wrong Tree In Tamil Nadu

BJP Barking Up The Wrong Tree In Tamil Nadu

Rediff.com14 Nov 2022

The BJP continuing to look at the Dravidian polity through the religious prism has not worked in Tamil Nadu whereas it has yielded political and electoral results across much of the rest of the country, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

'Degree not sole proof of education'

'Degree not sole proof of education'

Rediff.com30 Dec 2020

'A mother, a farmer and cattle owner, all have valuable knowledge, but academia has failed to acknowledge their wisdom.'

PS-1: Mani Ratnam's Magic Works Again, Yet...

PS-1: Mani Ratnam's Magic Works Again, Yet...

Rediff.com3 Oct 2022

Ponniyin Selvan has everything going for it, yet, there is something missing for a wholesome film experience, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

Will General Munir Take On Imran Khan?

Will General Munir Take On Imran Khan?

Rediff.com24 Nov 2022

If General Asim Munir, Pakistan's new army chief, wants to help defuse the current polarised atmosphere and shepherd civilian politicians towards negotiations on an acceptable date for elections, he may need to distance himself from any perception of needless hostility to Imran Khan, explains Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W, India's external intelligence agency.

Doval highlights increasing rivalries in Indian Ocean at maritime security meet

Doval highlights increasing rivalries in Indian Ocean at maritime security meet

Rediff.com30 Jun 2022

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on Thursday called for seamless coordination among various agencies involved in protecting India's maritime interests in the face of emerging security challenges and increasing rivalries and competitions in the Indian Ocean.

'Rail fare hike result of UPA govt's policies'

'Rail fare hike result of UPA govt's policies'

Rediff.com21 Jun 2014

Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has justified the Narendra Modi government's move to raise the rail fare by 14.2 per cent, saying it was a result of the policies undertaken by the previous United Progressive Alliance government. In an exclusive interview to CNN IBN, Prasad blamed the UPA II government for leaving Indian Railways in shambles, adding that his government never knew that the railways was bleeding, thanks to the Congress-led regime.

The Politics of Education

The Politics of Education

Rediff.com14 Aug 2020

'If there is one thing our politicians, especially those with their ear to the ground, understand, it is the reality that their voters want three things from their children's schooling: English, English, English', notes Shekhar Gupta.

'BJP's wish of being the only party not possible'

'BJP's wish of being the only party not possible'

Rediff.com30 Aug 2022

'A one-party State is not possible in a diverse country like India.'

WazirX controversy bares crypto's trade secrets in India

WazirX controversy bares crypto's trade secrets in India

Rediff.com25 Aug 2022

A few days back, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman urged the start-up community and public to deal in cryptocurrency with caution because everything that was floating around was not currency. In the first week of August, the country's top nine crypto exchange platforms were summoned by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in Hyderabad. The exchanges were questioned for money laundering, especially over a number of Indian non-banking financial companies and their fintech partners for predatory lending practices in violation of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines and by using tele-callers who misuse personal data and use abusive language to extort high interest rates from the loan takers.

Pak's new PM quietly exchanges letters with Putin to 'strengthen ties'

Pak's new PM quietly exchanges letters with Putin to 'strengthen ties'

Rediff.com24 Apr 2022

Pakistan's new Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin have quietly exchanged letters to strengthen bilateral relations, a media report said on Sunday, amidst allegations by Imran Khan that his maiden visit to Moscow, much against Washington's wishes, led to his ouster.

Opening the debate on President's address, Rahul draws first blood

Opening the debate on President's address, Rahul draws first blood

Rediff.com2 Feb 2022

Gandhi accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of bringing back the idea of a 'king of India' that was 'smashed in 1947" and targeted the PM saying that the 'idea of a king is back.."

Misgovernance, polarisation marked 8 yrs of Modi govt, says Cong; BJP hits back

Misgovernance, polarisation marked 8 yrs of Modi govt, says Cong; BJP hits back

Rediff.com26 May 2022

The BJP calling the Congress a "torn old party" moving towards a stage where its relevance and necessity will be completely lost.

If BJP Wins Telangana, He May Be CM

If BJP Wins Telangana, He May Be CM

Rediff.com13 Jun 2022

Amit Shah believes Bandi Sanjay Kumar is 'single-handedly' capable of unseating the TRS government in the December 2023 assembly election and there is no need for the BJP's central leaders to jump into the Telangana scene.

'False narratives' on agri laws hurting farmers: Niti Aayog vice chief

'False narratives' on agri laws hurting farmers: Niti Aayog vice chief

Rediff.com28 Dec 2020

As farmers continue their protests demanding repealing of the three new laws, Kumar also emphasised that continued negotiations with protesting farmers is of course the way forward.

Can India Be A 'Vishwaguru'?

Can India Be A 'Vishwaguru'?

Rediff.com4 May 2022

Many of the stories, the pictures going out of India worldwide lately with these provocative processions, taunting of Muslims, bulldozers targeting mostly their properties, the sweeping 'othering' of a community of 200 million are painting the front pages and TV screens in the democratic world. That is where most of the friends we covet lie. Soon enough, these will also make our vital friends among the Muslim nations, from Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, uneasy. The best time for course correction is now, asserts Shekhar Gupta.

BJP MLA suspensions: 'Nothing but vindictive politics'

BJP MLA suspensions: 'Nothing but vindictive politics'

Rediff.com6 Jul 2021

'If they think they can silence us by suspending us, then they don't know what BJP MLAs are made of.'

There is a political effort to depict our govt in a certain way: Jaishankar

There is a political effort to depict our govt in a certain way: Jaishankar

Rediff.com27 May 2021

"This is what this government did. Now, if you are feeding more than two and a half times the population of the United States and you are funding more than the population of the US and you're doing this pretty much anonymously and impersonally in the sense beyond the name and the detail, the bank account of the person. We're not asking anything more. There is no criteria of discrimination," Jaishankar, also a senior leader of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said.

US plans on business visa will hit hundreds of Indians

US plans on business visa will hit hundreds of Indians

Rediff.com22 Oct 2020

The State Department has proposed not to issue temporary business visas for H-1B speciality occupations which allowed several companies to send their technology professionals for a short stay to complete jobs on site in the US, a move which could affect hundreds of Indians. The proposal, if finalised, will eliminate any misconception that the "B-1 in lieu of H policy" provides an alternative avenue for foreign professionals to enter the US to perform skilled labour that allows, and potentially even encourages them and their employers to circumvent the restrictions and requirements relating to the H non-immigrant classification established by Congress to protect the US workers, the State Department said.

Reinstate woman judicial officer who filed sexual harassment plaint: SC

Reinstate woman judicial officer who filed sexual harassment plaint: SC

Rediff.com10 Feb 2022

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the reinstatement of a former Madhya Pradesh woman judicial officer, who resigned in 2014 following an inquiry into her allegations of sexual harassment against a high court judge, saying her resignation cannot be construed to be voluntary.

Hijab Row Can Hurt Indian Diplomacy

Hijab Row Can Hurt Indian Diplomacy

Rediff.com17 Feb 2022

India and Indians can ignore Pakistan, but that cannot be said of other nations in the neighbourhood, where New Delhi's 'Neighbourhood First' policy constantly reverberates. Four of the eight SAARC member-nations are Muslim -- Afghanistan and Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Maldives. The rulers decide the nation's India or anti-India policy in the first two, and street-opinion contributes to the same in the latter two, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

How Governments Harm Job Creators

How Governments Harm Job Creators

Rediff.com21 Apr 2022

From small restaurants to mighty software companies, it is businesses, not the government, that create jobs. Yet, in a cruel irony, they have to fight extortive and brutal State power every step of the way, says Debashis Basu.

US Congress passes bill that calls out Chinese aggression against India

US Congress passes bill that calls out Chinese aggression against India

Rediff.com16 Dec 2020

The US House of Representatives and the Senate on Tuesday passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included key components of Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi's resolution language urging the Chinese government to end its military aggression against India along the LAC.

Cong BIhar manifesto promises 10L jobs, farm loan waiver

Cong BIhar manifesto promises 10L jobs, farm loan waiver

Rediff.com21 Oct 2020

Referred to as 'Badlav Patr (document of change)', Congress leader Randeep Surjewala and All India Congress Committee's Bihar in-charge Shakti Sinh Gohil presented the manifesto that promises farm loan waiver and 50 percent subsidy in electricity bills to farmers up to 100 units of consumption. The manifesto also promised that it will reject the Centre's farm laws if voted to power.

'Dravidian parties have compromised on many issues'

'Dravidian parties have compromised on many issues'

Rediff.com3 Apr 2021

'A recent compromise by the state government is accepting NEET exams for medical entrance.'

'BJP wants to make Assam into a Kashmir'

'BJP wants to make Assam into a Kashmir'

Rediff.com16 Dec 2019

'Assam is not a dumping ground for Bangladeshi Hindu refugees,' says Assamese actor Ravi Sharma who joined the BJP in August and quit the party on December 10 in protest against the Citizenship Act.

Make 'clean break' from all terrorist forces, China tells Taliban

Make 'clean break' from all terrorist forces, China tells Taliban

Rediff.com14 Jul 2021

In a significant policy statement on the Taliban which is making big gains in its offensive in Afghanistan, China has asked it to make a "clean break" from all terrorist forces, especially the Al Qaida-backed Uyghur Muslim militant group ETIM fighting for the volatile Xinjiang province's independence.

Did FB fail to stop hate-filled user content in India?

Did FB fail to stop hate-filled user content in India?

Rediff.com24 Oct 2021

Internal documents at Facebook show "a struggle with misinformation, hate speech and celebrations of violence" in India, the company's biggest market, with researchers at the social media giant pointing out that there are groups and pages "replete with inflammatory and misleading anti-Muslim content" on its platform, US media reports have said.

Xi Jinping and Pomegranate Seeds

Xi Jinping and Pomegranate Seeds

Rediff.com8 Sep 2021

Why is China's supreme leader promoting Han Chauvinism so aggressively, asks Claude Arpi.

RSS doesn't want to be another power centre: Bhagwat

RSS doesn't want to be another power centre: Bhagwat

Rediff.com19 Jan 2020

The RSS chief said that 'the Sangh does not have any remote control and it does not want that anyone should function according to it'.

What the NEP can achieve

What the NEP can achieve

Rediff.com27 Aug 2020

'Education will definitely benefit by making the child's first language the medium of instruction, by making examinations less prone to rote-learning, by setting up national research universities, all recommendations of the NEP,' observe Pankaj Jain and Shreekant Sambrani.

Govt announces post-retirement jobs for Agniveers as protests erupt

Govt announces post-retirement jobs for Agniveers as protests erupt

Rediff.com15 Jun 2022

The Centre on Wednesday announced a raft of post-retirement employment possibilities for 'Agniveer' like priority in recruitment to the central armed police forces (CAPF) and Assam rifles but that failed to assuage the concerns of the opposition Congress which warned the 'transformative' 'Agnipath' scheme will reduce the operational effectiveness of the armed forces.

Govt issues revised guidelines for home isolation

Govt issues revised guidelines for home isolation

Rediff.com5 Jan 2022

It also advised people not to rush for self-medication, blood investigation or radiological imaging like chest X-ray or CT scan without consultation of treating medical officer.

'Amazon In India For Next 100 Years'

'Amazon In India For Next 100 Years'

Rediff.com4 Jul 2022

'For all of us at Amazon, it is 'Bharat first'.' 'We are keeping the Indian customer at the centre of what we are doing.'

Twitter launches measure to tackle state polls-related misinformation

Twitter launches measure to tackle state polls-related misinformation

Rediff.com15 Mar 2021

The measures include an information search prompt with the Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) and State Election Commissions to provide reliable information around the elections, a custom emoji to encourage participation, a series of pre-bunks and debunks to tackle election-related misinformation, and a youth discussion series titled #DemocracyAdda aimed at voter literacy and civic participation among young Indians for the upcoming elections.

Should young children learn how to code?

Should young children learn how to code?

Rediff.com5 Nov 2020

Parents should enroll their children in coding classes only as a leisure time activity, that too with strict curbs on screen time.

Pope Francis breaks silence on China's persecution of Muslims

Pope Francis breaks silence on China's persecution of Muslims

Rediff.com25 Nov 2020

"I think often of persecuted peoples: the Rohingya, the poor Uyghurs, the Yazidi -- what ISIS did to them was truly cruel -- or Christians in Egypt and Pakistan killed by bombs that went off while they prayed in the church," Francis says in a new book, Let Us Dream: The Path to A Better Future, published on Monday.

NEET results declared, Odisha's Soyeb Aftab bags top rank

NEET results declared, Odisha's Soyeb Aftab bags top rank

Rediff.com16 Oct 2020

The NEET was conducted on September 13 amid strict precautions in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SC raps lawyers for 'unfair criticism' over COVID-19

SC raps lawyers for 'unfair criticism' over COVID-19

Rediff.com23 Apr 2021

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, who is demitting office as the 47th CJI, lamented imputation of motive by some senior bar members while allowing senior advocate Harish Salve to withdraw as an amicus curiae from the case after he said that he did not want it to be decided under the shadow that he was friends with Justice Bobde from "school and college days".

Meet Asha, the robotic nurse

Meet Asha, the robotic nurse

Rediff.com17 Dec 2020

'Imagine taking care of a patient who is infected with Covid. A human nurse is unable to do that due to fear of infection. The robot can do that task, while it is controlled or supervised by the human nurse. So the robot becomes an extension of the nurse.'

Governor Caught In Centre-Tamil Nadu Crossfire

Governor Caught In Centre-Tamil Nadu Crossfire

Rediff.com20 Apr 2022

The DMK feels its genuine gestures have had no bearing on the governor's politico-administrative conduct, which is 'more political and politicised than administrative and Constitutional', observes N Sathiya Moorthy.