Archis Mohan, Abhijit Lele

Stories by Archis Mohan, Abhijit Lele

The Secrecy Surrounding Electoral Bonds

The Secrecy Surrounding Electoral Bonds

Rediff.com   30 Oct 2023

The BJP and Congress are the top two beneficiaries of the electoral bonds, followed by the Trinamool Congress.

EC Crackdown Hits Pay Dirt In Poll States

EC Crackdown Hits Pay Dirt In Poll States

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2023

Seizures in poll-bound states see sharp rise since implementation of Model Code of Conduct.

Why V K Pandian Is So Valuable To Naveen Patnaik

Why V K Pandian Is So Valuable To Naveen Patnaik

Rediff.com   25 Oct 2023

Naveen Patnaik is known as an "absentee landlord" who needs bureaucrats like Pandian to run his government.

Former Barclays banker Ashok Vaswani to head Kotak Mahindra Bank

Former Barclays banker Ashok Vaswani to head Kotak Mahindra Bank

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2023

Ashok Vaswani, a banker with more than three-and-half decades experience in building and scaling up businesses across consumer and corporate banking and payments, will be the next managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) of Kotak Mahindra Bank. Last week, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had given its approval to Vaswani's appointment. Vaswani is currently President of Pagaya Technologies, a US-Israeli artificial intelligence (AI) fintech firm, which he joined in June 2022.

Net FDI in India down to $3 billion in April-August

Net FDI in India down to $3 billion in April-August

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2023

Net foreign direct investment (FDI) in India, inflows minus outflows, declined sharply in April-August this year to $2.99 billion from $18.03 billion in the same period last year on moderation in global activities and a rise in repatriation. The Reserve Bank of India's data (October 2023 bulletin) said FDI in India was $7.28 billion and FDI by India, that is money invested abroad from the country, was $4.28 billion in April-August 2023. As for 2022, FDI in India was $22.79 billion and FDI by India was $4.76 billion in April-August.

Rs 2,000 crore loans to Go First are now NPA: Central Bank of India

Rs 2,000 crore loans to Go First are now NPA: Central Bank of India

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2023

Central Bank of India classified its loans to Go First as non-performing assets (NPAs) in the July-September quarter (second quarter, or Q2) of 2023-24 (FY24). The no-frills carrier has been under insolvency proceedings since May 2023 and ceased operating flights on May 3 this year. The public sector lender's exposure, including government-guaranteed emergency credit to the ailing airline, amounts to about Rs 2,000 crore.

Lenders unlikely to clear Anil Agarwal's Vedanta spinoff in hurry

Lenders unlikely to clear Anil Agarwal's Vedanta spinoff in hurry

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2023

Indian lenders are unlikely to clear the vertical split of BSE-listed Vedanta Ltd in a hurry, considering that the demerger would reduce the fungibility of cash flows across businesses and increase their volatility, according to analysts. The demerger plan, which would result in six separate listed entities, would require approval from shareholders, lenders and other statutory bodies. "We believe that a separate listing of different businesses would reduce the fungibility of cash flows across businesses and increase the volatility of cash flows.

Zoramthanga, Guerrilla Fighter in the Political Jungle

Zoramthanga, Guerrilla Fighter in the Political Jungle

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2023

At 79, Zoramthanga is working to rebuild his image as the people's CM.

INDIA Bloc Hits Familiar Roadblocks

INDIA Bloc Hits Familiar Roadblocks

Rediff.com   28 Sep 2023

Some constituents of the alliance have raised concern that the panels, particularly the 14-member coordination committee, are at risk of becoming ineffective, as their decisions have so far not been acted upon.

Savings declined but resulted in rise in assets: SBI chief economist

Savings declined but resulted in rise in assets: SBI chief economist

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2023

The net financial savings of the household sector has moderated to 5.1% of GDP in FY23 from 7.6 per cent in FY20, as households shifted their savings to physical assets amid low interest rates during the pandemic, according to State Bank of India's (SBI) Research report.

Equity FDI inflows nearly halve on global overhang

Equity FDI inflows nearly halve on global overhang

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2023

Showing the effect of the slowdown in global economic activity, the equity foreign direct investment (FDI) into India declined sharply to $13.9 billion in April-July 2023 from $22.04 billion a year ago. The net FDI, inflows minus outflows, declined from $17.28 billion in April-July 2022 to $5.70 billion in April-July 2023 on account of moderating gross FDI and a rise in repatriation. Gross FDI into India moderated to $22.0 billion during April-July 2023 from $29.6 billion a year ago, according to Reserve Bank of India data.

25-bp deposit rate hike likely this festival season

25-bp deposit rate hike likely this festival season

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2023

The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) decision to withdraw the incremental cash reserve ratio (I-CRR) is expected to benefit banks during the festival season. They are likely to increase deposit rates by up to 25 basis points (bps) in select maturity buckets. The rise in demand for funds to cover tax payments and meet quarter-end business targets could influence rate decisions by banks, according to bankers and money market executives.

Time Has Come For Women's Reservation Bill

Time Has Come For Women's Reservation Bill

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2023

Women politicians bring to politics and policy a sensitivity that most of their male counterparts, at least until a generation back, lacked.

India's outward FDI down 33.3% in August on grim global prospects

India's outward FDI down 33.3% in August on grim global prospects

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2023

Reflecting subdued global economic growth, India's outward foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 33.3 per cent sequentially to $1.21 billion in August, compared to over $1.82 billion in July.

INDIA Reaches Out To Naidu's TDP

INDIA Reaches Out To Naidu's TDP

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2023

The BJP senior leadership believes the YSRCP is a more reliable potential ally post-2024 Lok Sabha election than the TDP.

Bajaj Finance's B2B segment to add 1,000 cities in the next three years

Bajaj Finance's B2B segment to add 1,000 cities in the next three years

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2023

As a step to entrench its consumer finance business, Bajaj Finance (BFL) plans to scale up its business-to-business (B2B) activity, both in terms of volume as well as value. It plans to add up to 1,000 cities in the next three years and this will mark its presence in around 5,000 cities. The expansion activity will be more in Northern and Eastern India.

With 74 Foreign Visits, Modi Is Most Travelled PM

With 74 Foreign Visits, Modi Is Most Travelled PM

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2023

While Modi has spent fewer days abroad than his predecessor (270 days versus Dr Singh's 306), he has travelled more extensively and actively than any other Indian PM.

G20 Summit: Time For India To Raise Stature

G20 Summit: Time For India To Raise Stature

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2023

'The group commands 85 per cent of the global GDP, and if you are able to convey your point of view effectively to this group then you have reached more or less all the important players that matter.'

Why Modi Is Pushing For One Nation, One Election

Why Modi Is Pushing For One Nation, One Election

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2023

'There was a 77 per cent chance that electorates in India voted for the same party for both the state and Centre when elections were held simultaneously.'

What G20 Leaders' Spouses Can Expect

What G20 Leaders' Spouses Can Expect

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2023

An exhibition on the origins of Indian art, culture, handicrafts, and India's grassroots farming innovations is scheduled for September 9 and 10.