Upasna Pandey

From Jaisalmer to Shillong, in an autorickshaw

Rutavi Mehta completed the 12-day autorickshaw run, from Jaisalmer to Shillong, considered one of the 'most dangerous races' in the world.

'I have confidence in the people of India'

'Adivasis are a critical national treasure, so we need to protect them.' 'The fight for the tribals of Chhattisgarh needs people from all political parties. It cannot be about any single political group.'

India's Cloth Man on winning the Magsaysay

Anshu Gupta, the founder of Goonj, has transformed the culture of giving in the country. He has for 15 years now, worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots, by making discarded materials a resource for the poor. His weapon, he says, is 'cloth as a tool of social change.'

A charitable way: NGO sponsors civil service aspirants from minority community

The Zakat Foundation of India runs welfare initiatives for the destitute and helps with the education of poor students. Upasna Pandey/ Rediff.com discover the origins of this organisation

India's Topper: 'Life is too short to be defined by one exam'

UPSC toppers -- Ira Singhal, Nidhi Gupta, Vandana Rao and Suharsha Bhagat -- tell Rediff.com how they cracked the tough national exam.

'Kejriwal has been exposed as a run-of-the-mill politician'

Swaraj Samvad has moved on to be a nationwide agenda, says group convenor Professor Anand Kumar.

'Those who boycott yoga day are playing dirty politics'

Ahead of the event, Shripad Naik, the Union minister of state (independent charge) for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, which is coordinating yoga day, speaks to Upasna Pandey.

We are asking for our due, not begging for a favour, say ex-servicemen

Veterans bemoan the 'lack of intention' shown by the Modi sarkar, who seem to have reneged on their poll promise.

Solution to Delhi's power problem lies with its residents

Delhi power minister Satyendra Jain in an interview to Rediff.com contributor Upasna Pandey, says thatdiscoms will be able to cater to the peak power demand of up to 6,500 MW, provided residents cooperate by reducing peak time usage.

Keep the faith, say Delhi's anti-corruption officers

With anti-corruption phone calls tapering and political capital eroding, the Aam Aadmi Party government needs the Anti-Corruption Branch to deliver on promises of a corruption-free Delhi. Upasna Pandey reports.

'We almost feel like Rashtrapati Bhavan ambassadors now'

Some of the 19 NIT scholars who spent a week at the Rashtrapati Bhawan as part of an 'in-Residence Programme' share their learnings with Upasna Pandey

'Delhi government should keep its promises to women'

'There are no women in the Delhi government and it shows how much the government is concerned about women's issues,' says DCW chairperson Barkha Singh.

Why teachers fear and resent govt's new diktat

Teachers across universities are questioning the "thoughtlessness, rushed manner and opacity" of the process in which the UGC announced the introduction of the choice-based credit system across universities in the country.

Give us evidence of their well-being, say relatives of missing Indians

'We need more than assurances from political parties,' say relatives of the 39 Indian workers who have been missing in Iraq since June last year. Rediff.com contributor Upasna Pandey reports

'Shocked by church attacks, but our faith is strong'

'We need to stop having low expectations from autistic children'

Upasna Pandey spoke with parents of some artists who participated at the 'Views from Planet Autism 2015'

Unfazed by ridicule, this MP continues to cycle to Parliament

'Some say I do it for publicity, while others call it a gimmick. But these questions don't trouble me,' says Arjun Ram Meghwal, a two-time Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Parliament from Bikaner. Upasna Pandey reports

'Kejriwal may have the mandate but he has lost the road map'

'Swaraj Samvad sees itself in the role of a watchdog in Delhi,' Professor Anand Kumar tells Rediff.com.

'AAP has failed to bring gender perspective in the party'

Aam Aadmi Party's eminent women supporters are backing the 'Swaraj Samwad' with a focus on women participation in politics. They also haven't given up on dreams of a united AAP. Upasna Pandey reports

People are not interested in 'political humdrum', says AAP leader

As the Aam Aadmi Party goes through an internal power struggle, senior leader H S Phoolka dismisses the goings-on as normal birth pangs of a political party. Upasna Pandey reports for Rediff.com