Ajai Shukla And Shally Seth Mohile

Stories by Ajai Shukla And Shally Seth Mohile

India's Looming Submarine Shortfall

India's Looming Submarine Shortfall

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2022

With the Indian Navy's requirement of conventional submarines standing at 24, there is critical need to expedite the planned acquisition of six more conventional submarines.

Beware Of Agnipath!

Beware Of Agnipath!

Rediff.com   13 Jul 2022

The greatest unknown in this risky initiative lies in the way human relationships will play out -- not just between the Agniveers, who will be competing with their fellows for permanent jobs beyond their four-year tenures -- but also between the Agniveers and existing full-time soldiers, warns Ajai Shukla.

SUVs drive Hyundai India's diesel model sales to three-year high

SUVs drive Hyundai India's diesel model sales to three-year high

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2022

A strong demand for diesel SUVs has bumped up the contribution of these variants to Hyundai Motor India's sales to a three-year high, a company top official told Business Standard. The local arm of the South Korean carmaker has benefitted after some leading manufacturers - including car market leader Maruti Suzuki - pulled the plug on diesel models amid tightening regulations. Hyundai has also gained from the changing travel preference -people are frequenting getaways and taking to the road a lot more than what they did before the pandemic. This trend has been fuelling overall SUV sales.

How the Japanese Yen's troubles are bringing a smile to Maruti Suzuki

How the Japanese Yen's troubles are bringing a smile to Maruti Suzuki

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2022

The recent currency volatility - rupee's depreciation against international currencies - may have given heartburns to automakers that rely on imports or pay royalty to parent companies abroad. But for Maruti Suzuki India, favourable movement of the yen - the currency that matters the most - against the Indian rupee, has given it reasons to cheer. The yen's sharp fall against the rupee and the rupee's depreciation against the US dollar, which in turn will bump up export realisations, are set to give a margin boost to the maker of Baleno and Brezza, said analysts. The softening of commodity prices and slew of new SUV launches in the coming months will also aid margins, they said.

Indian Navy Tests Secret Missile

Indian Navy Tests Secret Missile

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2022

The VL-SRSAM, which DRDO developed for the Indian Navy, was fired from a warship at a high-speed aerial target mimicking incoming enemy aircraft.

M&M to set up first tractor plant in decade in Mohali

M&M to set up first tractor plant in decade in Mohali

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2022

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) is setting up a greenfield tractor plant in Mohali near Punjab. Fueled by a strong domestic demand, the expansion is the first in a decade by the world's largest tractor maker. In 2012, the company had set up a facility at Zaheerabad in Telangana.

Auto sector poised for double-digit growth in FY23 after 3 years

Auto sector poised for double-digit growth in FY23 after 3 years

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2022

While commercial vehicles are expected to benefit from strong replacement demand, the two-wheeler and tractor segments are expected to gain from a recovery in the rural economy.

IAF Or AAI: Who Should Get Precedence?

IAF Or AAI: Who Should Get Precedence?

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2022

There is increasing friction between the IAF's military requirements, and the AAI's need to provide infrastructure to many more airlines.

EVs to drive auto capex up by Rs 70,630 crore in 5 years

EVs to drive auto capex up by Rs 70,630 crore in 5 years

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2022

Automobile manufacturers, new and old, as well as ancillary suppliers are set to spend a combined Rs 70,630 crore over the next five years on either entering the electric vehicle segment or stepping up their presence in it. Data culled from announcements made by firms shows India, the world's fifth largest automobile market, is poised to receive one of the biggest capex pushes ever to fuel the transition from internal combustion engines to electric motors and batteries as part of a green drive. The EV push, egged on by the government's emphasis on electric mobility to meet its net zero targets, is expected to yield at least 25 electric vehicles - new ones as well as electrified versions of existing vehicles running on internal combustion engines.

Indian Army's Achilles Heel: Artillery Power

Indian Army's Achilles Heel: Artillery Power

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2022

The army has long been deficient in artillery, the modern battlefield's most lethal killer, says Ajai Shukla.

Hospitality deals pick up after a lull as HNIs, family offices check in

Hospitality deals pick up after a lull as HNIs, family offices check in

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2022

After a two-year lull, the deal pipeline in India's hospitality sector, which has witnessed a strong revival since the second wave of the pandemic receded, is running full. Family offices, high net-worth individuals (HNIs) and institutional investors are looking at the sector with renewed interest, according to investment and transaction advisory firms working on multiple deals. Most of them declined to divulge details of the deals for reasons of confidentiality. The cumulative debt of the tourism, hotels and restaurant sector rose 8.2 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 64,408 crore as of March 25, 2022 against Rs 59,519 crore on March 26, 2021, according to the Reserve Bank of India.

India's entry-level cars lose steam as buyers wait it out in inflation

India's entry-level cars lose steam as buyers wait it out in inflation

Rediff.com   31 May 2022

The economy segment of India's car market is unlikely to revive soon term as inflation and prices prompt buyers to defer purchases. The share of entry-level cars in the passenger vehicle market dropped to the lowest in seven years at the end of the Financial Year 2021-22 (FY22). A recovery in the segment will be largely driven by the overall economic growth, improvement in income levels, and easing of semiconductor shortage, say carmakers and analysts.

Why the Chinese Need To Worry

Why the Chinese Need To Worry

Rediff.com   31 May 2022

In the two years since the PLA's intrusions into Eastern Ladakh, the Border Roads Organisation is sparing no effort to build and upgrade road highways from Tezpur to the McMahon Line.

It's Rafale vs Boeing for INS Vikrant's fighters

It's Rafale vs Boeing for INS Vikrant's fighters

Rediff.com   23 May 2022

The Indian Navy has decided that the twin-seat Rafale will not be disqualified on the basis of its inability to operate from an aircraft carrier.

Is Doval the reason there's no CDS?

Is Doval the reason there's no CDS?

Rediff.com   13 May 2022

Gen Bipin Rawat's appointment, first as army chief superseding two other army commanders, and then as CDS, was the consequence of his close personal rapport with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Now, with General Rawat gone and nobody named to replace him as CDS, it is evident that no other top military officer enjoys that relationship with Doval, observes Ajai Shukla.

Tata Motors unveils the stunning e-concept Avinya

Tata Motors unveils the stunning e-concept Avinya

Rediff.com   9 May 2022

Recently, TPEM's first born electric concept, Avinya broke cover. The model promises a minimum range of 500 kilometres and advanced technology features, aimed at buyers in India and outside. TPEM, the newly formed entity may also consider a separate dedicated sales channel for the EVs with a distinctive corporate identity once the volumes reach a critical mass and throughput is large enough for the dealers to be profitable, said Chandra. Elaborating further on the hiring strategy he said, "We will hire from everywhere-wherever the talent of the required competency is available."

Boom Motors recalls Corbett ebikes, halts production after fatal accident

Boom Motors recalls Corbett ebikes, halts production after fatal accident

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2022

So far at least eight incidents of EV fires have been reported in just over a month's time.

Wyndham Hotels To Double India Properties by 2025

Wyndham Hotels To Double India Properties by 2025

Rediff.com   25 Apr 2022

'If the Indian government actually delivers on the infrastructure plans, the hospitality sector would double itself by 2025.'

Why Ola decides to recall 1,441 units of S1

Why Ola decides to recall 1,441 units of S1

Rediff.com   25 Apr 2022

Ola Electric became the latest among electric scooter (e-scooter) makers to have started the exercise of recalling a specific batch of its model after a rap on the knuckles by the government. Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday advised electric vehicle (EV) companies to act responsibly by identifying and recalling defective batches without waiting for orders or guidelines from the ministry. The Bengaluru-based start-up is conducting pre-emptive diagnostics and health check on 1,441 scooters, it said in a statement on Sunday.

Nepal's decision on imports may hit India hard

Nepal's decision on imports may hit India hard

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2022

Nepal's decision to ban the import of non-essential items amid depleting forex reserves may hit Indian exports. The country's central bank - Nepal Rastra Bank - last week instructed commercial banks not to open letters of credit (LCs) for importing non-essential items. This is to prevent further decline of the country's foreign exchange reserves. However, it has not issued any formal communication yet.