Nitin Kumar, Surajeet Dasgupta &Amp;Amp; Anjali Singh

Stories by Nitin Kumar, Surajeet Dasgupta &Amp;Amp; Anjali Singh

Smaller electric two-wheeler players unlikely to raise prices in 2024

Smaller electric two-wheeler players unlikely to raise prices in 2024

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2024

Smaller players manufacturing electric two-wheelers (E2Ws) are unlikely to raise prices of their models initially in 2024 in order to ensure volumes do not drop. The prices of E2Ws range from Rs 90,000 to Rs 1 lakh, the players being Lohia Auto, Godawari Electric, Emobi, etc. As India's E2W sector gears up to go past one million in 2024, manufacturers are likely to maintain price stability, underpinned by strategic independence from subsidies under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric (and Hybrid) Vehicles II (FAME II), localisation efforts, sustainability initiatives, and a focus on affordability.

Why India Is Buying 5 Argentine Lithium Mines

Why India Is Buying 5 Argentine Lithium Mines

Rediff.com   2 Jan 2024

The Centre will invest around Rs 200 crore over five years for the exploration and development of these mines.

'I expect 8% growth next year'

'I expect 8% growth next year'

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2023

'We will see a lot of investments from the private sector.' 'As long as we are not impacted by some global events, I think we will be in a strong place.'

Potential bidders set to get three chances in offshore mineral auction

Potential bidders set to get three chances in offshore mineral auction

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2023

For the country's maiden offshore mineral mining auction, the Centre is planning to relax the rules on the number of chances for bidding. Under the newly announced draft Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules and Offshore Areas (Existence of Mineral Resources) Rules, the ministry of mines is planning to offer three chances to potential bidders in its forthcoming inaugural offshore mining auction. If a single bid is not received during the second attempt, the plan is to initiate a new round of bidding for the third time.

India set to launch first-ever offshore mineral auction in Q1 FY24

India set to launch first-ever offshore mineral auction in Q1 FY24

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2023

In a step towards diversifying its resource base and securing green energy minerals, India is poised to launch its first-ever offshore mineral auction in the first quarter of 2024, announced Union Minister of Mines Pralhad Joshi during the launch event of the National Geoscience Data Repository portal. The government plans to hold auctions in March, offering 10-15 blocks for bidding. Meanwhile, the ministry of mines is currently developing rules and regulations for offshore mining.

Electric two-wheeler sales likely to breach 1 million mark in 2024

Electric two-wheeler sales likely to breach 1 million mark in 2024

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2023

India's electric two-wheeler (E2W) sector is expected to cross the one million mark in 2024 fuelled by rising demand, increased production, and affordability, industry experts said, even as several original equipment makers are expanding their penetration to rural areas. Improved battery technology and innovative features are also likely to fuel growth, they said. "E2W sales will breach the 1-million mark in 2024 as the demand for electric two-wheelers is expected to continue growing due to factors such as environmental awareness, government incentives, and improvements in technology," Hyder Khan, chief executive officer (CEO), Godawari Electric Motors, said.

Luxury carmaker Lamborghini's Revuelto sold out in India, globally for 2024

Luxury carmaker Lamborghini's Revuelto sold out in India, globally for 2024

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2023

Luxury carmaker Lamborghini has announced that its hybrid super sports car, Revuelto, is sold out in India and globally for 2024. The strong demand for the Revuelto is driven by a growing number of new customers, including a 20 per cent increase in first-time buyers in India. Lamborghini is also evaluating the possibility of opening new dealerships in smaller towns in eastern and southern India within the next one to two years.

Rapido drives cabs into Uber, Ola lane

Rapido drives cabs into Uber, Ola lane

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2023

There's a hint of new competition riding into a sector that has attracted attention for being in a duopoly-like situation. Rapido, a commute app known for its budget-friendly bike-taxi services, on Tuesday announced its entry into the cab market, which is currently dominated by marquee brands Uber and Ola. Rapido's cab foray will be enabled by a software as a service (SaaS)-based platform.

'Aim to be among top three biosimilar players in world'

'Aim to be among top three biosimilar players in world'

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2023

'We've got a huge track record and success in bringing several biosimilars to the market.'

Heart Disease: Why Young Women Are At Risk

Heart Disease: Why Young Women Are At Risk

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2023

Practo has witnessed a 215% increase in total consultations related to cardiovascular health, with women in the age group of 25 to 34 contributing to the largest number of consultations.

MP Polls: Of Jobs And Broken Promises

MP Polls: Of Jobs And Broken Promises

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2023

Of the 3,893,149 registered applicants on the MP Rojgar portal, only 21 individuals have been successfully placed in government and semi-government positions since April 2020.

MP: Are Women Voters Shifting Loyalties?

MP: Are Women Voters Shifting Loyalties?

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2023

'This time, triumph will belong to the brother who promises a brighter future, not the one who merely remembers his sisters during elections and then vanishes.'

Green mobility: Hybrid vehicles in the fast lane in India

Green mobility: Hybrid vehicles in the fast lane in India

Rediff.com   25 Oct 2023

At a time when consumers increasingly embrace green mobility solutions, it is not electric cars but hybrids that are taking the lead, as automotive sales data indicate. Since January, 64,097 electric cars have been sold compared to 266,465 hybrids, according to data from the ministry of road transport and highways' Vahan dashboard. Hybrid car sales have surged from 4.42 per cent of the 4.1 million cars sold in calendar year 2022 to 7.2 per cent this year.

Hybrid vehicles take lead in realm of eco-friendly mobility solutions

Hybrid vehicles take lead in realm of eco-friendly mobility solutions

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2023

At a time when consumers increasingly embrace green mobility solutions, it is not electric cars but hybrids that are taking the lead, as automotive sales data indicate. Since January, 64,097 electric cars have been sold compared to 266,465 hybrids, according to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' Vahan dashboard. Hybrid car sales have surged from 4.42 per cent of the 4.1 million cars sold in calendar year 2022 to 7.2 per cent this year.

'Modi and Trudeau will sacrifice our dreams'

'Modi and Trudeau will sacrifice our dreams'

Rediff.com   9 Oct 2023

As India's diplomatic tensions with the Land of the Maple Leaf escalate, so do the anxieties of countless Punjabis.

Hurdles in biofuel use: Few vehicles, weak ethanol-blended petrol rollout

Hurdles in biofuel use: Few vehicles, weak ethanol-blended petrol rollout

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2023

The limited availability of flexible (flex)-fuel vehicles in the Indian market and the slow rollout of ethanol-blended petrol by oil-marketing companies (OMCs) remain major obstacles to achieving widespread use of biofuels in the transportation sector in India. Recently, two Union ministers have emphasised India's biofuel potential, arguing that it has the capacity and potential to lead a transition towards widespread biofuel adoption. Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari signalled that this transition is well underway and urged car manufacturers to quickly adapt and introduce new biofuel-run vehicles, lest the government resort to taxing diesel vehicles.

EV sales zoom past 1 million in 2023

EV sales zoom past 1 million in 2023

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2023

Electric vehicle (EV) sales in India topped the 1 million mark in less than nine months in 2023, a milestone that took an entire year in 2022. According to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' Vahan Dashboard, 1,037,011 EVs were registered with regional transport offices till September 19, accounting for 6.4 per cent of the total automobile sales in the country this year. The sales surge can be attributed to increased individual purchases as well as business-to-business (B2B) acquisitions by EV fleet operators, industry sources said.

Heavy industries' ministry scraps human safety tests for EV batteries

Heavy industries' ministry scraps human safety tests for EV batteries

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2023

The Centre on Wednesday scrapped the mandatory human safety tests for electric vehicle (EV) batteries required to qualify for incentives under various government schemes. The ministry of heavy industries, in its fresh guidelines, has made compliance with the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH's) prevailing EV battery testing standards the only requirement to get incentives under the Centre's various incentive schemes.

US-based Coupang to set up tech centre in India

US-based Coupang to set up tech centre in India

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2023

Coupang, a prominent online retail giant headquartered in the United States (US), is gearing up to establish a cutting-edge technology centre in India, aiming to hire several dozen skilled professionals by the end of the year, Business Standard has learnt. The intended expansion involves the recruitment of software engineers across various domains, underscoring Coupang's commitment to extend its global reach. The Indian team will support the company's global technology team, sources said.

Centre releases first ever list of 30 critical minerals

Centre releases first ever list of 30 critical minerals

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2023

In a significant move to enhance its strategic resource security, India has officially released its first-ever critical minerals list, identifying 30 key critical minerals crucial to the nation's economic growth and technological development. This pioneering step aims at reducing import dependence, enhancing supply-chain resilience, and supporting the country's net-zero objectives. Union Minister Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi, while releasing the Critical Minerals for India report in New Delhi on Wednesday, said, "India is readying for an Atmanirbhar Bharat."