News for 'rural india'

Airpay and MSCB Team Up to Expand Digital Payments in Maharashtra's Rural Co-operative Sector

Airpay and MSCB Team Up to Expand Digital Payments in Maharashtra's Rural Co-operative Sector

Rediff.com27 Mar 2026

Airpay Payment Services has partnered with Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank (MSCB) to enable UPI-based digital payments across the lender's network in Maharashtra, aiming to accelerate financial inclusion in rural areas.

How Shubham Kumar Topped JEE, India's Toughest Exam

How Shubham Kumar Topped JEE, India's Toughest Exam

Rediff.com1 Jun 2026

Gaya native Shubham Kumar topped the JEE exam by avoiding negative news and social media. He credited his parents, Kota faculties and hard work for his success. Gurugram's Kabeer Chillar secured the second rank. Both students attended the Allen Career Institute in Kota.

India's TV Viewers to Cross 1 Billion

India's TV Viewers to Cross 1 Billion

Rediff.com2 Feb 2026

Internet subscribers, income growth, literacy and dependency ratio are the biggest drivers of growth.

How India's New AI Weather Forecasts Will Help Farmers

How India's New AI Weather Forecasts Will Help Farmers

Rediff.com12 May 2026

Union Minister Jitendra Singh launched two advanced weather forecast products developed under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), aimed at delivering hyper-local, impact-based and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven weather services across India.

Rupee Fall Exposes India's Economic Weakness

Rupee Fall Exposes India's Economic Weakness

Rediff.com27 May 2026

We who were dreaming of being the third largest economy in dollar terms, have slid back to sixth, thanks to the falling rupee. We are moving about with begging bowls for investments and trade opportunities, which will be a while in materialising, if ever, notes Shreekant Sambrani.

Centre notifies draft rules for VB-G RAM G rollout

Centre notifies draft rules for VB-G RAM G rollout

Rediff.com23 May 2026

The Centre has notified draft rules for the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025, outlining the framework for the new rural employment programme replacing MGNREGA. The draft rules are open for public feedback until June 21, 2026.

Heatwave? Just Ride Around In A Hut

Heatwave? Just Ride Around In A Hut

Rediff.com16 Jun 2026

Aligarh resident Habib Saifi has built a small hut-like structure on his bike to protect himself from direct sunlight during this intense summer.

Gautam Adani overtakes Mukesh Ambani to become Asia's wealthiest person

Gautam Adani overtakes Mukesh Ambani to become Asia's wealthiest person

Rediff.com17 Apr 2026

Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, has surpassed Mukesh Ambani to become Asia's richest person, with a net worth of USD 92.6 billion, placing him 19th globally according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Cash In Circulation Hits Record Rs 42.86 Trillion

Cash In Circulation Hits Record Rs 42.86 Trillion

Rediff.com22 May 2026

Cash remains dominant for many transactions despite continued expansion in digital payments across the country.

One In Three Indian Women Overweight

One In Three Indian Women Overweight

Rediff.com9 Jun 2026

Over the past year, the sale of injectable GLP-1 agonists (used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity) such as Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic have surged a whopping 218 per cent.

Modi working to protect India's prestige on global stage: Sharad Pawar

Modi working to protect India's prestige on global stage: Sharad Pawar

Rediff.com20 May 2026

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar has acknowledged that despite political differences with Narendra Modi, the prime minister is working to uphold India's prestige internationally. Pawar emphasised the importance of collective effort for national interest and cited examples of past leaders who prioritised the country's reputation.

Modi Has Transformed The Vocabulary Of Indian Politics

Modi Has Transformed The Vocabulary Of Indian Politics

Rediff.com10 Jun 2026

Few leaders since Independence have been able to establish such a direct connection with the electorate or shape the national conversation to the extent that Narendra Modi has done over the past decade, points out former Union minister Dr Karan Singh.

VB-G RAM G Act from July 1, MGNREGA to be repealed

VB-G RAM G Act from July 1, MGNREGA to be repealed

Rediff.com11 May 2026

The Centre has announced that the Viksit Bharat -- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act will come into force across the country from July 1, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

'We will keep the consumer at the centre, use technology to optimise, and continue investing behind brands to drive volume-led penetration'

'We will keep the consumer at the centre, use technology to optimise, and continue investing behind brands to drive volume-led penetration'

Rediff.com11 May 2026

"Our strategy has always been to focus on volume-led penetration growth," said Manish Tiwary, chairman and managing director, Nestle India.

World Bank Chief Advocates 'Small AI' For Farmers

World Bank Chief Advocates 'Small AI' For Farmers

Rediff.com22 May 2026

World Bank President Ajay Banga has advocated for the deployment of 'Small AI' locally deployed artificial intelligence running on inexpensive hardware to address daily problems faced by farmers and rural communities in emerging markets.

Telangana Junior Basketball League Aims To Develop Young Talent

Telangana Junior Basketball League Aims To Develop Young Talent

Rediff.com19 May 2026

The Telangana Basketball Association has launched the Telangana Junior Basketball League (TJBL), a grassroots initiative aimed at identifying and developing young basketball talent. The franchise auction for the league was valued at Rs 1.48 crore.

India's internet user base crosses 950 million in 2025: IAMAI report

India's internet user base crosses 950 million in 2025: IAMAI report

Rediff.com29 Jan 2026

India's internet user base crossed 950 million in 2025, driven largely by rapid growth in rural connectivity, rising short-video consumption, and increasing adoption of AI, according to a report released by IAMAI on Thursday.

Heatwaves Trigger Hidden Ozone Threat

Heatwaves Trigger Hidden Ozone Threat

Rediff.com22 Jun 2026

'Can you believe there are over 26,500 deaths linked to heatwave-driven ozone in 2024?'

'Annamalai Is A Proxy For The BJP'

'Annamalai Is A Proxy For The BJP'

Rediff.com18 Jun 2026

'The generational shift belongs to Vijay, Udhayanidhi and Annamalai.' 'The BJP cannot fit into the shift.' 'So they threw Annamalai into the situation where he is comparable with Vijay and Udhayanidhi.'

Missing Teacher's Daughter Appeals To Punjab CM For Help

Missing Teacher's Daughter Appeals To Punjab CM For Help

Rediff.com2 Jun 2026

The daughter of Sunil Sharma, an Indian-origin teacher based in Melbourne who disappeared in Amritsar last month, has appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for assistance. Police have identified Sharma's brother, who is wanted in a narcotics case, as the prime suspect.

NCW mandates annual POSH audits to strengthen women's workplace safety

NCW mandates annual POSH audits to strengthen women's workplace safety

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued a comprehensive advisory to all states and Union Territories, recommending mandatory annual POSH audits and other measures to strengthen the implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The advisory aims to ensure safe, inclusive, and gender-sensitive working environments for women across all sectors, emphasising institutional accountability, proper committee constitution, and robust awareness programmes.

Supreme Court declares right to walk on footpaths a fundamental right

Supreme Court declares right to walk on footpaths a fundamental right

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

The Supreme Court has declared the right to walk on demarcated footpaths a fundamental right, prioritising it over motorised vehicle movement, and has called for the establishment of a regulatory body to ensure its enforcement and provide restitutionary remedies for violations.

Missing Australian NRI murdered by brother over property

Missing Australian NRI murdered by brother over property

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

A Melbourne-based Indian-origin teacher, Sunil Sharma, who went missing in Amritsar, was allegedly murdered by his brother, Satish Sharma, over a property dispute. Police investigations revealed Satish conspired with property dealers to usurp Sunil's properties, leading to his murder with a baseball bat after being drugged. Sunil's body was then disposed of in a canal, and his family, including his daughter, had appealed for help in finding him. Satish, his wife, and son have been arrested, and a search for the body and other conspirators is ongoing.

TMC meltdown continues as ex-minister, Siliguri mayor resign

TMC meltdown continues as ex-minister, Siliguri mayor resign

Rediff.com19 Jun 2026

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is facing a severe leadership crisis as former minister Jyoti Priya Mallick resigned from all party organisational posts citing health, and senior North Bengal leader Goutam Deb stepped down as mayor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation, amidst widespread internal rifts and electoral setbacks.

Outrage As Odisha Bank Asks Man To Produce Sister's Skeleton

Outrage As Odisha Bank Asks Man To Produce Sister's Skeleton

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

A tribal man in Odisha was forced to carry his sister's exhumed skeleton to a bank to withdraw her money, sparking widespread condemnation. The bank claims it only requested valid documents, but the incident has raised questions about the treatment of vulnerable customers.

Assam not to issue Aadhaar cards to adults anymore

Assam not to issue Aadhaar cards to adults anymore

Rediff.com13 Jun 2026

The Assam cabinet has decided to restrict the issuance of Aadhaar cards to individuals over 18 years of age, a move aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from acquiring the document. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that exceptions would require district commissioner proposals and state government approval, with a complete ban for all communities over 18 set for April 1, 2027.

Bihar Government Suspends Two IAS Officers On Corruption Charges

Bihar Government Suspends Two IAS Officers On Corruption Charges

Rediff.com30 May 2026

The Bihar government has suspended two senior IAS officers, Yogesh Kumar Sagar and Abhilasha Kumari Sharma, following corruption charges based on findings shared by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU). The officers are accused of obtaining undue monetary benefits through bribery and commissions.

Hindi Cinema Is Incomplete Without The Muslim

Hindi Cinema Is Incomplete Without The Muslim

Rediff.com6 Jun 2026

As time went by, different facets of the Hindi cinema started showing the complicated identity of Muslim -- sometimes tendentious and at other times perverse and unreliable.

Land Dispute Turns Deadly: Two Brothers Killed In UP Village

Land Dispute Turns Deadly: Two Brothers Killed In UP Village

Rediff.com21 Apr 2026

A dispute over the division of agricultural produce between brothers in a village in Jalaun, Uttar Pradesh, turned violent, resulting in the deaths of two siblings in separate acts of violence.

'Pressure To Bear A Son Is More In The City'

'Pressure To Bear A Son Is More In The City'

Rediff.com17 Jun 2026

'Even lower middle class parents in cities opt for just one child. A son is a must.'

Dabur faces a tangle of growth headwinds

Dabur faces a tangle of growth headwinds

Rediff.com23 Apr 2026

Dabur India's stock has fallen over 17 per cent since the start of the Iran war, driven by concerns over a weak monsoon, the West Asian crisis, and rising input costs, which are expected to impact the company's revenues and margins, particularly affecting its significant rural sales and international markets.

India's Unemployment Rate Dips Slightly in Feb

India's Unemployment Rate Dips Slightly in Feb

Rediff.com16 Mar 2026

India's unemployment rate saw a marginal decrease in February 2026, according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). The survey highlights changes in urban and rural unemployment rates, as well as labour force participation and worker population ratios.

How AI Can Empower Women Journalists In India

How AI Can Empower Women Journalists In India

Rediff.com20 Apr 2026

Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary (Information and Publicity), Maharashtra, highlighted the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence in journalism and encouraged women journalists to embrace this technological shift to enhance their skills and drive positive change.

Shivakumar sworn in as Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah's son joins cabinet

Shivakumar sworn in as Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah's son joins cabinet

Rediff.com3 Jun 2026

D K Shivakumar has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administering the oath of office and secrecy. The ceremony also saw 13 other ministers, including a Deputy CM, taking their oaths, attended by prominent Congress leaders and religious figures.

How Punjab Police Recovered Over 12,000 Lost Mobile Phones

How Punjab Police Recovered Over 12,000 Lost Mobile Phones

Rediff.com23 May 2026

Punjab Police have successfully traced and returned over 12,000 lost mobile phones to their owners in the past year, utilising technical and data analysis. The recoveries, estimated to be worth between Rs 15 to Rs 20 crore, were made possible through initiatives like the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR).

Household Healthcare Costs Rise Again

Household Healthcare Costs Rise Again

Rediff.com4 Jun 2026

Private hospitals accounted for 30.8 per cent of current health expenditure in FY23, while pharmaceuticals and medical goods contributed more than 21 per cent, underlining continued dependence on private healthcare and medicine spending.

As El Nino looms, govt making district-wise plan to tackle weak monsoon

As El Nino looms, govt making district-wise plan to tackle weak monsoon

Rediff.com29 May 2026

"Rather than worrying, preparation is required. Contingency plans will be made for affected districts and crop changes will be considered wherever necessary"

Raghu Rai: The Genius Who Captured India For Eternity

Raghu Rai: The Genius Who Captured India For Eternity

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

He was childlike with a camera in his hands -- not nave, but wonderstruck, as though the world were always on the verge of delivering something unrepeatable. Pulitzer Prize nominee Namas Bhojani recalls his long association with Raghu Rai, the legendary photographer who passed into the ages on Sunday.

West Asia Conflict Deepens India's Economic Challenges

West Asia Conflict Deepens India's Economic Challenges

Rediff.com30 Apr 2026

Even if there is an early agreement on a cessation of hostilities in West Asia, the price shock will not go away easily, points out A K Bhattacharya.

The Bihar I Have Begun To Believe In

The Bihar I Have Begun To Believe In

Rediff.com3 Jun 2026

Bihar's greatest resource is not beneath its soil but above it -- its people. With a population approaching 140 million and one of India's youngest demographic profiles, Bihar possesses an asset many societies would envy, explains Bihar Governor Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (retd).