Abhijit Lele And Arindam Majumder

Stories by Abhijit Lele And Arindam Majumder

Agnipath: Veterans fail to find govt jobs after retirement

Agnipath: Veterans fail to find govt jobs after retirement

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2022

Even as Union ministers allay misgivings over Agnipath, figures show a meagre 2.4 per cent of the ex-servicemen who applied for a government job could get one as the Centre and the states have been unable to recruit against the reserved quotas. Public sector undertakings (PSUs), ministries, and officials of Sainik Boards have blamed it on the lack of skill among ex-servicemen. They say veterans' inability to qualify in selection exams is one of reasons for this. Also, non-recognition of qualifications obtained from the military are reasons why their recruitment has remained significantly low, pushing them towards low-skill jobs.

Foreign travel top reason why India's overseas remittances doubled

Foreign travel top reason why India's overseas remittances doubled

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2022

Spending on international travel tripled in April 2022 as Covid-related curbs were eased in various countries in FY22.

'Ranchi incident is a learning experience'

'Ranchi incident is a learning experience'

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2022

'We should have calmed down the child. We will do an internal analysis on that.'

Drone start-ups: Adani to Ambani, billionaire Indians race for supremacy

Drone start-ups: Adani to Ambani, billionaire Indians race for supremacy

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2022

An opportunity to enter a burgeoning sector at a low valuation and favourable policies are propelling some of India's largest corporate groups to scoop up drone start-ups. "Indian corporations lost the race in aerospace and space tech. "No one wants to miss the bus this time. "These are seasoned businessmen and they realise that the market cap of tech companies with problem-solving capabilities will exponentially rise in future," says Vipul Singh, CEO of Aarav Unmanned Systems (AUS).

Taken An SBI Loan, But Not Repaid It?

Taken An SBI Loan, But Not Repaid It?

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2022

There are loans to salaried people where the borrower is employed, but has failed to make repayment. Such loans would be identified and sold in a pool to ARCs.

Air India offers VRS in first move to prune headcount

Air India offers VRS in first move to prune headcount

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2022

Tata-owned Air India has launched a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for its employees- in the airline's first drive to reduce headcount. The salt-to-steel conglomerate acquired the carrier last year. As of November 2019, the airline had 9,426 permanent employees.

'I'm waiting for my appointment letter'

'I'm waiting for my appointment letter'

Rediff.com   30 May 2022

Hundreds of pilots are staring at a long wait to get the job of their dreams after completing the course, the cost of which runs to Rs 1 crore.

Flow of money into NRI deposits moderates to $3.23 bn in FY22

Flow of money into NRI deposits moderates to $3.23 bn in FY22

Rediff.com   26 May 2022

Flow of money into non-resident Indian (NRI) deposits moderated sharply to $3.23 billion in April 2021-March 2022 from $7.36 billion in the same period of the previous year. Outstanding deposits have also gone down to $139.02 billion at the end of March 2022. This compares to $141.89 billion a year ago, according to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data.

Ford drops plan to manufacture EVs in India; opts out of PLI scheme

Ford drops plan to manufacture EVs in India; opts out of PLI scheme

Rediff.com   13 May 2022

American automaker Ford on Thursday said that it had withdrawn plans to manufacture electric vehicles (EVs) in India and it won't invest in the country under the performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. "After careful review, we have decided to no longer pursue EV manufacturing for exports from any of the Indian plants. "We remain grateful to the government for approving our proposal under the PLI and for being supportive while we continued our exploration. "Ford India's previously announced business restructuring continues as planned, including exploring other alternatives for our manufacturing facilities.

Maruti Suzuki has a blueprint to regain market share in SUVs

Maruti Suzuki has a blueprint to regain market share in SUVs

Rediff.com   12 May 2022

Maruti's strategy for the SUV segment is to arrest the decline in customers for entry level hatchbacks.

Cognitive disabilities and the dilemma facing India's airlines

Cognitive disabilities and the dilemma facing India's airlines

Rediff.com   10 May 2022

Disability rights came under the spotlight again as the country's largest airline IndiGo refused to let a teenager with special needs board its aircraft. While the twitterati as well as fellow passengers have called for strict action, IndiGo has stood by its action saying the airport manager took the decision to ensure safety of other passengers. "Throughout the check-in and boarding process, our intent of course was to carry the family. "However, at the boarding area, the teenager was visibly in panic.

Airlines have to compensate if fliers are denied boarding, says DGCA

Airlines have to compensate if fliers are denied boarding, says DGCA

Rediff.com   7 May 2022

The regulator has warned airlines and in an email on May 2 asked all Indian carriers to give compensation and facilities to passengers affected by such denial of boarding, failing which it would will impose financial penalties on them.

Airspace coordination in India helps airlines save big

Airspace coordination in India helps airlines save big

Rediff.com   6 May 2022

Coordination between defence and civilian authorities has freed up airspace for commercial airlines in India, resulting in routes becoming shorter and costs coming down, apart from mitigating pollution. "Due to various restrictions of the military, only about 58 per cent of the Indian airspace was being utilised. It is close to 70 per cent now," said an official of the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Officials of the AAI said to date 119 routes had been shortened. Sources said since December 2020 the cumulative savings of airlines had been close to Rs 200 crore while there was a reduction in emission of around 45,000 tonnes of carbon.

US aviation watchdog likely to maintain highest safety rating for India

US aviation watchdog likely to maintain highest safety rating for India

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2022

A continuation of the highest standard by the FAA will be a relief for Indian airlines especially the Tata group which intends to increase Air India flights on India-US routes. US aviation watchdog Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has completed the audit of India's aviation regulator DGCA. Sources said that the FAA team was satisfied with the work and changes in regulations by India and is likely to maintain a Category 1 status rating under its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme.

Russia-Ukraine war may expose 42% India firms to significant risks: Moody's

Russia-Ukraine war may expose 42% India firms to significant risks: Moody's

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2022

Global rating agency Moody's on Monday said the high commodity prices and supply chain disruptions due to further escalation in the Russia-Ukraine crisis could expose about 42 per cent of rated Indian companies to significant risks. They are mainly in the oil and gas and automotive sectors. The impact may be seen under two scenarios: first, revised base line and second being downside economic scenarios incorporating a global recession and a more severe liquidity squeeze, it said. The military conflict between Russia and Ukraine is impacting companies in Asia Pacific, adding to existing challenges from supply chain disruption and the coronavirus pandemic.

Indian lenders worried over Future group's diminishing asset base

Indian lenders worried over Future group's diminishing asset base

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2022

The Indian lenders are worried over the fast depleting asset base of the Future group companies which would make their recovery of dues difficult. The asset base of Future group has eroded in the last two years due to lockdown and takeover of 947 stores by rival Reliance Retail after Future group's lease on the properties expired. Bankers said they have approached bankruptcy court so as to avoid any duplication of legal action and reduce time at the legal forums.

Will Jet Manage To Fly This Year?

Will Jet Manage To Fly This Year?

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2022

If that happens, Jet Airways will be the first bankrupt airline which will be revived under the Insolvency process.

Airlines start restoring pilots' pay cut as flights go full

Airlines start restoring pilots' pay cut as flights go full

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2022

Despite partial restoration of salaries, pilots across airlines remain dissatisfied, throwing challenges for managers.

Tatas bring in talent from group companies to revive Air India

Tatas bring in talent from group companies to revive Air India

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2022

Due to the group's presence across multiple businesses, it is in a unique position in the aviation industry to bring the best of talents.

Nashik: 20 electric scooters of Jitendra EV loaded in container catch fire

Nashik: 20 electric scooters of Jitendra EV loaded in container catch fire

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2022

In light of the recent incidents involving scooters from prominent electric mobility brands bursting into flames, the subject of electric vehicle (EV) safety has come under the spotlight. As many as 20 electric scooters of Nashik-based Jitendra EV Tech caught fire after being loaded on a transport container. While no one has been reported injured, the company said it is conducting an investigation to find the 'root cause' of the fire.