News for 'passport photograph'

Passports 'regulate departure' of Indians from country: MEA

Passports 'regulate departure' of Indians from country: MEA

Rediff.com14 Jul 2026

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that an Indian passport is primarily a travel document issued to regulate the departure of citizens and is not intended as proof of citizenship. This statement comes amidst a debate on its use for verifying citizenship, particularly concerning electoral rolls, and has drawn criticism from opposition parties.

Gangster Chhota Rajan gets 7-year jail in passport forgery case

Gangster Chhota Rajan gets 7-year jail in passport forgery case

Rediff.com30 Jul 2026

Gangster Chota Rajan has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by a special CBI court in Chennai for obtaining a passport using forged documents. The conviction follows a 22-year legal battle, with Rajan having assumed the identity of Vijaya Kadam.

Passport not proof of citizenship: Shashi Tharoor has a solution

Passport not proof of citizenship: Shashi Tharoor has a solution

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

Amid the passport row, Shashi Tharoor has proposed legal changes to simplify proof of Indian citizenship.

Afghan National Arrested At Goa Airport For Passport Fraud

Afghan National Arrested At Goa Airport For Passport Fraud

Rediff.com11 May 2026

An Afghan national has been arrested at Goa International Airport for allegedly travelling on fraudulently obtained passports while impersonating an Indian citizen.

Pakistani Boxer Qudratullah Vanishes From Team Hotel After Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Pakistani Boxer Qudratullah Vanishes From Team Hotel After Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Rediff.com3 days ago

Pakistani boxer Qudratullah has reportedly disappeared from the team hotel in Glasgow following the Commonwealth Games, marking another incident of a Pakistani athlete vanishing during an international event.

Trump to put his pic in limited edition American passports

Trump to put his pic in limited edition American passports

Rediff.com29 Apr 2026

The US State Department is set to release a limited-edition passport featuring images of President Donald Trump and the Founding Fathers to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence in July. The special passports will be available in person at the Washington Passport Agency.

SC grants anticipatory bail to DMK's Senthil Balaji in TASMAC corruption case

SC grants anticipatory bail to DMK's Senthil Balaji in TASMAC corruption case

Rediff.com7 days ago

The Supreme Court has granted anticipatory bail to DMK leader and former minister V Senthil Balaji in a fresh corruption case related to alleged irregularities in the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), with conditions including cooperation with the investigation and depositing his passport.

Foreign citizen can't be deported unless...: Centre to SC

Foreign citizen can't be deported unless...: Centre to SC

Rediff.com6 days ago

The Centre has informed the Supreme Court that foreign nationals with unverified nationality cannot be deported unless their home country confirms their identity and agrees to accept them. This submission was made in response to a plea challenging indefinite detention of declared foreigners in Assam.

Why This England Pacer Retired From Cricket Aged 25

Why This England Pacer Retired From Cricket Aged 25

Rediff.com18 hours ago

England fast bowler John Turner, 25, has announced his shock retirement from professional cricket, citing a persistent stress fracture and injury record.

'Not in NDA': NCPI MP Taher clarifies why he joined Modi for breakfast

'Not in NDA': NCPI MP Taher clarifies why he joined Modi for breakfast

Rediff.com15 hours ago

Nationalist Citizens Party of India leader Abu Taher attended a breakfast meeting hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for NDA allies but asserted that his party is not part of the ruling alliance. He stated his attendance was solely to raise public issues directly with the Prime Minister.

NEET protest: SC to hear pleas on pellet firing on Aug 3

NEET protest: SC to hear pleas on pellet firing on Aug 3

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear pleas filed by a former IPS officer and two persons, who claimed to have been injured by pellet guns fired during the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led students' protest on NEET paper leaks.

13-year court battle led to Tarun Tejpal's conviction for rape

13-year court battle led to Tarun Tejpal's conviction for rape

Rediff.com1 days ago

The Bombay High Court has convicted former Tehelka editor Tarun Tejpal for the sexual assault of a junior colleague in 2013, overturning his 2021 acquittal by a trial court.

Explained: What establishes citizenship in India

Explained: What establishes citizenship in India

Rediff.com26 Jun 2026

A clarification by the ministry of external affairs that the passport is not a proof of citizenship has once again brought to the fore the need for a legal framework to provide citizens with a single document to establish they are Indians.

The Real Reasons India Can't Reach the FIFA World Cup

The Real Reasons India Can't Reach the FIFA World Cup

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

Despite a population of 1.45 billion, India's football team is ranked a lowly 138th in the world and failed to qualify for next year's Asian Cup, highlighting deep-rooted systemic issues and a failure to implement reforms that keep the World Cup dream distant for fans.

Cong alleges Sarma's wife holds 3 passports, CM threatens lawsuit

Cong alleges Sarma's wife holds 3 passports, CM threatens lawsuit

Rediff.com5 Apr 2026

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has denied allegations made by the Congress party that his wife possesses multiple passports and concealed property information, vowing to take legal action against the Congress leader who made the claims.

SC refers Teesta Setalvad's passport release plea to larger bench

SC refers Teesta Setalvad's passport release plea to larger bench

Rediff.com13 Apr 2026

The Supreme Court has referred activist Teesta Setalvad's application for the release of her passport to a three-judge bench, in a case related to alleged fabrication of documents in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

How Kerala police saved a NEET aspirant's exam dream amid a crisis

How Kerala police saved a NEET aspirant's exam dream amid a crisis

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

A police team in Kochi intervened to help a NEET candidate who was about to be denied entry to her examination centre due to a missing passport-size photograph. Their timely action, involving contacting a studio owner on a Sunday, ensured the student could sit for the crucial medical entrance test.

Bomb Scare: Rajasthan Passport Offices Searched After Threat

Bomb Scare: Rajasthan Passport Offices Searched After Threat

Rediff.com10 Mar 2026

Passport offices, seva kendras, and post offices across Rajasthan were searched following a bomb threat email, leading to evacuations and security operations.

How Pak Lashkar terrorist 'Khargosh' fled to Saudi on fake Indian passport

How Pak Lashkar terrorist 'Khargosh' fled to Saudi on fake Indian passport

Rediff.com19 Apr 2026

Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Umer Harris, also known as 'Khargosh', is believed to be in Saudi Arabia after escaping India using a forged passport. An investigation into the inter-state LeT terror module has exposed systemic loopholes and raised concerns about passport issuance processes.

10 Most Powerful Passports. And India...

10 Most Powerful Passports. And India...

Rediff.com30 Jan 2026

Henley Passport Index 2026 has once again ranked Singapore as the passport offering its people access to the most countries and therefore near-seamless travel accross the planet.

Ex-IPS officer, injured protesters move SC against pellet guns

Ex-IPS officer, injured protesters move SC against pellet guns

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

A former IPS officer and two individuals injured during a recent protest in Delhi have filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on the use of pellet guns by law enforcement agencies for crowd dispersal. The petitioners argue that pellet guns are an arbitrary and dangerous tool, violating the right to freedom of assembly and failing the test of necessary and proportional force. They also seek compensation and medical treatment for victims.

8-year jail for 6 Pakistanis for heroin seizure off Gujarat coast

8-year jail for 6 Pakistanis for heroin seizure off Gujarat coast

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

A special NIA court in Ahmedabad has sentenced six Pakistani nationals to eight years of rigorous imprisonment for their involvement in the 2019 mid-sea seizure of 330 kg of 'brown heroin' off Gujarat's Jakhau coast. An Indian man, allegedly the intended recipient, was acquitted due to benefit of doubt. The National Investigation Agency had probed the case, alleging funds from the smuggling were intended for a terror organisation.

Why India's Youth Anger Exploded

Why India's Youth Anger Exploded

Rediff.com28 Jul 2026

The failure of the State when it directly affects our lives, through a corrupt exam system, has produced this current anger, points out Aakar Patel.

Delhi airport hold-up of Bangladesh PM adviser triggers diplomatic row

Delhi airport hold-up of Bangladesh PM adviser triggers diplomatic row

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

Bangladesh summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner to convey "deep disappointment" after Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, an adviser to the Prime Minister, was stopped and questioned by immigration authorities at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. The incident led to Rahman's decision to return home despite being cleared to proceed.

Pune: How Siya, Chetan planned Ketan Agarwal's murder

Pune: How Siya, Chetan planned Ketan Agarwal's murder

Rediff.com21 Jul 2026

Siya Goyal and Chetan Chaudhary meticulously planned the murder of Goyal's fiance, Ketan Agarwal, after initially considering injuring him to delay their wedding. The couple allegedly watched suspense films, browsed the internet, and scouted multiple locations before deciding to push him off Lohagad Fort, driven by the urgency of an upcoming Bali trip.

Hoodie won't hide him: Gait analysis to probe Pune realtor murder

Hoodie won't hide him: Gait analysis to probe Pune realtor murder

Rediff.com30 Jun 2026

The police investigating the Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal murder case will conduct a "gait analysis" of accused Chetan Chaudhary and are also planning to compare the CCTV footage capturing his movements at the Lohagad Fort with a recreated video, a court was informed on Monday.

Cong, BJP battle on streets across country as student agitation spirals

Cong, BJP battle on streets across country as student agitation spirals

Rediff.com23 Jul 2026

The spiralling agitation over the NEET issue saw protests and counter-protests by Congress and BJP across the country on Wednesday, with clashes and tense face-offs at many places, a day after Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders were forcibly removed from a dharna outside the prime minister's residence.

Youth Protest Is No Longer About Paper Leaks

Youth Protest Is No Longer About Paper Leaks

Rediff.com24 Jul 2026

When dialogue fails, protest becomes inevitable.
In a democracy, protest is often the only language left once institutions stop listening, explains Ramesh Menon.

Shaji Prabhakaran: OCI/PIO Players Need Balanced Strategy For Indian Football

Shaji Prabhakaran: OCI/PIO Players Need Balanced Strategy For Indian Football

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

AFC Executive Committee member Shaji Prabhakaran advocates for a balanced, long-term strategy for integrating OCI and PIO players into Indian football, stressing it's not a complete solution but a part of broader development. He also analyses recent World Cup semifinals, highlighting Spain's tactical dominance and Argentina's fighting spirit.

Call records reveal how fiancee planned Ketan Agarwal's murder

Call records reveal how fiancee planned Ketan Agarwal's murder

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

Pune police have revealed that Ketan Agarwal's fiancee, Siya Goyal, and her lover, Chetan Chaudhary, exchanged 2,004 calls and spent 238 hours on the phone in the six months leading up to Agarwal's alleged murder at Lohagad Fort, suggesting extensive planning for the crime.

Mahadev betting app founder Sourabh Chandrakar detained in Oman

Mahadev betting app founder Sourabh Chandrakar detained in Oman

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

Sourabh Chandrakar, the absconding founder of the Mahadev betting app, has been detained in Oman based on an Interpol Red Notice. Indian agencies are now working to extradite or deport him. The ED's investigation into the syndicate has revealed alleged proceeds of crime worth Rs 6,000 crore and links to high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats.

'Two flags, one heart': Khedira's beautiful message on brothers split at World Cup

'Two flags, one heart': Khedira's beautiful message on brothers split at World Cup

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

Germany's 2014 World Cup winner Sami Khedira sees no identity crisis in his brother Rani playing for Tunisia at FIFA World Cup 2026.

Anxiety Grows Over SIR Verification

Anxiety Grows Over SIR Verification

Rediff.com15 Jul 2026

The population is gripped by anxiety against arbitrariness and the cruelty of a state that sells its actions as minimum government, asserts Aakar Patel.

Fiancee, lover made 2,004 calls before Lohagad Fort murder plot: Police

Fiancee, lover made 2,004 calls before Lohagad Fort murder plot: Police

Rediff.com25 Jun 2026

In a deadly twist to what would have been a dream wedding, police on Tuesday said 26-year-old Ketan, who died while on a trek on June 18, was allegedly pushed into the gorge by his fiancee Siya (20) and her lover Chetan (22).

ALL You Want To Know About Maharashtra's SIR!

ALL You Want To Know About Maharashtra's SIR!

Rediff.com8 Jul 2026

'The final electoral roll will be published on October 7, 2026.' 'If someone who is otherwise eligible does not find his/her name in that electoral roll, they can fill Form 6 along with other necessary documents to enrol his/her name in the electoral roll after the final publication of the electoral roll also.'

Twist in Pune fort death: Fiancee, male friend held for realtor's fatal fall

Twist in Pune fort death: Fiancee, male friend held for realtor's fatal fall

Rediff.com24 Jun 2026

Police in Pune have detained the fiancee and a male friend of trekker Ketan Vishal Agarwal, who was initially believed to have died in an accidental fall at Lohagad fort. The case is now being investigated as a murder, with allegations that the two suspects pushed Agarwal into a deep gorge.

DRI Foils Rs 5 Crore Crystal Meth Smuggling Bid At Chennai Airport

DRI Foils Rs 5 Crore Crystal Meth Smuggling Bid At Chennai Airport

Rediff.com11 Jun 2026

DRI sleuths at Chennai International Airport seized five kgs of crystal methamphetamine, valued at Rs 5 crore, from a passenger attempting to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur. The passenger has been arrested, and an investigation is underway to uncover the broader drug network.

Ireland STUN India to seal historic series win

Ireland STUN India to seal historic series win

Rediff.com28 Jun 2026

Ireland produced one of the biggest wins in their T20I history, edging India by just one run in a thrilling second T20I in Belfast to complete a historic 2-0 series sweep.

Rhodes Scholarship: How Indian Students Can Study At Oxford

Rhodes Scholarship: How Indian Students Can Study At Oxford

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

Eligible and selected students will receive a stipend of 20,400 per annum, course fee and other costs.

Uddhav claims silver bricks donated by Sena to Ram temple 'stolen'

Uddhav claims silver bricks donated by Sena to Ram temple 'stolen'

Rediff.com27 Jun 2026

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray criticised the BJP, accusing it of betraying Hindus by allegedly embezzling donations for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He vowed to lead protests for "BJP-mukt Ram" and questioned the BJP's Hindutva, calling it a "Pakistan Janata Party" for its alleged party-splitting tactics and questioning citizenship. Thackeray also targeted rebel MPs, including Sanjay Deshmukh, for their defection.