Aditi Phadnis &Amp; Bhupesh Bhandari

Stories by Aditi Phadnis &Amp; Bhupesh Bhandari

Telangana: Poor development, inept leaders

Telangana: Poor development, inept leaders

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2009

K Chandrashekhar Rao belongs to an intermediate caste called Velama -- corresponding to Jats in north India. Velamas, who were kings in medieval India, are now rich landlords with a presence in at least three districts in Telangana -- Warangal, Medak and Nizamabad. Telangana has been backward for centuries. Remember, it never came under the British but was ruled by the Nizam of Hyderabad who did set up a few factories and a textile mill in Warangal.

How the 'Bulldozer' failed in Pak, Afghanistan

How the 'Bulldozer' failed in Pak, Afghanistan

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2009

At a recent Track II conference of Indians and Pakistanis, predictions about the fate of Richard Holbrooke, the key interlocutor for US policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan (Af-Pak, because nothing can be solved in Afghanistan without addressing Pakistan) were dire. He's losing his job and going home -- after all, he's achieved very little, and he's abrasive and rude.

The reign of rural retail

The reign of rural retail

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2009

The monsoon rains may have failed and crop output may be lower but, after a small blip, the rural markets are back on track.

Slim majority complicates Hooda's functioning

Slim majority complicates Hooda's functioning

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2009

Today, Hooda wears a hangdog look. With 40 MLAs, he's barely been able to form a government. He is at the mercy of independents - and has had to part with portfolios as important as transport and tourism - so that they don't cross over to Om Prakash Chautala whose Indian National Lok Dal, with 32 MLAs, is snapping at his heels.

Global recovery: Destination India?

Global recovery: Destination India?

Rediff.com   9 Nov 2009

This year, the India Economic Summit has more foreign companies attending than Indian ones.

Special: Madhu Koda and his circle of friends

Special: Madhu Koda and his circle of friends

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2009

The first five years of Koda's life as a BJP legislator were uneventful: he used this time to consolidate relationships. But elections came around in 2005 and the BJP turned down Koda's claim of a nomination. He contested as an Independent from his old constituency and won.

'Pak has most to gain from peace in Afghanistan'

'Pak has most to gain from peace in Afghanistan'

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2009

Former Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan and former chief secretary of the North West Frontier Province, Rustam Shah Mohmand, tells Aditi Phadnis that the United States is part of the problem in Afghanistan.

Govt to split Chiria mines, SAIL gets half

Govt to split Chiria mines, SAIL gets half

Rediff.com   7 Oct 2009

Putting an end to the fierce scramble for India's iron ore resources, the government has decided to split the Chiria iron ore mines in Jharkhand into two and give at least half the reserves to Steel Authority of India Ltd for its expansion plans. The other half will be kept for development by the private sector later, said informed sources.

Why the haloed Bihar CM lost in the by-polls

Why the haloed Bihar CM lost in the by-polls

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2009

The Bihar result could be a flash in the pan but it has Nitish Kumar seriously worried. More so, because the loss represents a defeat for many of the reforms he was trying to introduce.

'An upturn is clearly visible'

'An upturn is clearly visible'

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2009

Korn/Ferry is a global leader in executive search. For the quarter ended July 2009, its fee income fell over 40 per cent to $116 million from a year ago and the company reported a net loss of $14.3 million as against a profit of $15.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Its chief financial officer, Michael A Digregorio and managing director for India, Deepak Gupta, spoke to Bhupesh Bhandari and Amit Ranjan Rai on the emerging opportunities and challenges.

Headhunters back on the prowl; jobs boom

Headhunters back on the prowl; jobs boom

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2009

Globally, most headhunters are down 40-50 per cent in revenue. But India, it seems, is ahead of the curve.

Kaushik Basu tipped for CEA's post

Kaushik Basu tipped for CEA's post

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2009

Kaushik Basu, the C Marks Professor of International Studies, professor of economics, and director of the Center for Analytic Economics at Cornell, has been asked informally if he would consider becoming Chief Economic Advisor (CEA), a post that will fall vacant after Arvind Virmani ends his tenure and leaves to join the International Monetary Fund at the end of the month.

The secret behind Perfetti's success in India

The secret behind Perfetti's success in India

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2009

Globally, Perfetti Van Melle ranks third in the confectionery sweepstakes after Mars and Cadbury. But in India, it leads the pack with a 25 per cent share of the Rs 3,000-crore (Rs 30 billion) per annum market

What has become of the Royal Challenge whiskey?

What has become of the Royal Challenge whiskey?

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2009

The brand actually fell between two stools -- the beer went to SABMiller and the whiskey to Mallya. Who should promote it?

Govt mulls raising retirement age to 62 years

Govt mulls raising retirement age to 62 years

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2009

The government is actively considering raising the retirement age of all central government employees, including those in the armed forces, from the present 60 to 62 years.Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has submitted a report to the prime minister outlining all the pros and cons of the move, including the cascading effects on government employment and the huge savings, at least for two years, on account of retirement payouts.

View: Buta Singh's fall from grace

View: Buta Singh's fall from grace

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2009

How did a leader, once as important as Buta Singh, suffer such a precipitous fall from grace? After being Home Minister and governor, Singh is looking at a Bihar government probe at some of the actions he had taken as the governor of Bihar and his family is caught up in a clutch of court cases -- most of a criminal nature.

Malvinder Mohan Singh: The next big thing

Malvinder Mohan Singh: The next big thing

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2009

As he uses the Ranbaxy money to expand his other businesses, in India and abroad, this young scion is clear about one thing -- he's not going to fight battles he can't win.

Shiv Shankar Menon signs off on a dull note

Shiv Shankar Menon signs off on a dull note

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2009

But India's outgoing foreign secretary should not be judged solely on what happened at Sharm El Sheikh.

MEA will be a livelier place under Nirupama Rao

MEA will be a livelier place under Nirupama Rao

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2009

The new foreign secretary brings formidable experience on Sino-Indian relations to South Block

Highway to disaster

Highway to disaster

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2009

Running a state was a lot more treacherous than building roads.