Archis Mohan, Arindam Majumder

Stories by Archis Mohan, Arindam Majumder

Lessons Congress Learnt From Karnataka Win

Lessons Congress Learnt From Karnataka Win

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2023

It should announce its candidates 45 days before the elections; trust rooted leaders; start its campaign focused on five guarantees six months before elections.

USISPF Or USIBC? Who Gets Modi's Vote?

USISPF Or USIBC? Who Gets Modi's Vote?

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2023

Prime Minister Narendra D Modi's itinerary for his June 21-24 US visit could include an address to a fledgling business advocacy group, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum.

'Karnataka does not survive on Centre's largesse'

'Karnataka does not survive on Centre's largesse'

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2023

'Karnataka's finances are much healthier than the Union government's, which is indebted to nearly twice the extent of the state.'

Polls 2024: Importance Of Allies For BJP, Congress

Polls 2024: Importance Of Allies For BJP, Congress

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2023

Both the BJP and Congress understand that coalitions and alliances are not just about numbers, but have symbolic value.

What Will Be Modi's Road To 2024?

What Will Be Modi's Road To 2024?

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2023

The BJP's challenge is whether it can again deflate a Congress, which now looks reinvigorated and has adopted sharper messaging around its 'guarantees', and several regional parties, especially in Bihar, Maharashtra and West Bengal.

Eye On 2024: Modi's Foreign Visits

Eye On 2024: Modi's Foreign Visits

Rediff.com   24 May 2023

With Lok Sabha elections months away, the visits are vital politically as these would showcase Modi's standing as a world leader to the home electorate.

NDA Turns 25, But Does This BJP Remember?

NDA Turns 25, But Does This BJP Remember?

Rediff.com   23 May 2023

'It is not just about numbers. Sometimes coalitions and alliances have symbolic value.'

'There is space for a brand like Vistara'

'There is space for a brand like Vistara'

Rediff.com   17 Aug 2022

'I am seven months into the job, but it feels like seven years.'

SpiceJet told to operate only half its flights for 8 weeks

SpiceJet told to operate only half its flights for 8 weeks

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2022

In an unprecedented action, Indian aviation regulator DGCA has directed low-cost airline Spicejet to operate only 50 per cent of its flights for eight weeks. This follows an unusually high number of incidents involving the airline, raising safety concerns. The curtailment of capacity is unlikely to have any commercial impact on the airline owned by entrepreneur Ajay Singh. SpiceJet already operates less than 50 per cent of the flights it had filed for the summer schedule.

UDAN international plan under cloud as AirAsia India fails to get permit

UDAN international plan under cloud as AirAsia India fails to get permit

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2022

Tata group-owned AirAsia India's inability to get approval for international flights is hurting UDAN, the Indian government's regional air connectivity project that also aims to link cities in Northeast India and Odisha to places abroad. Sources said the civil aviation ministry is waiting for the low-cost airline to come under the full ownership of Tata Sons and become part of Air India, the former state-owned carrier now owned by the private conglomerate, before allowing it to operate international flights. Tata owns 84 per cent stake in AirAsia India and it is understood that the group will complete the process of buying rest of the stake by July's end.

Labour pain for pvt domestic airlines as staff threaten mass leave over pay

Labour pain for pvt domestic airlines as staff threaten mass leave over pay

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2022

Failure to reinstate salary even two years after the drastic cuts has landed the airline industry in a massive industrial relation crisis. While employees of Air India had organised a strike back in 2011, it is for the first time that private airlines are facing serious stress related to workers. IndiGo witnessed two of them, back to back. In the first instance, around 50 per cent of the IndiGo flights were delayed as a large number of crew members went on mass sick leave, apparently to participate in a rival airline's walk-in job interview.

How Ukraine war may give wings to Jet's international plans

How Ukraine war may give wings to Jet's international plans

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2022

Jet Airways is looking to lease around 20 Airbus A320 aircraft from lessors by 2024 as it aims to restart operations and fly international routes in the next one-and-a-half years. Jet's A320 aircraft fleet, according to sources, will be a mix of the Ceo and the more fuel-efficient Neo variants. These planes were originally intended for Russian airlines but could not be delivered following western sanctions on Russia over its Ukraine invasion.

Cabin crew, guards among 1,600 Air India employees opting for VRS

Cabin crew, guards among 1,600 Air India employees opting for VRS

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2022

More than 1,600 employees of Air India, the former state-run carrier now owned by the Tata group, have opted for voluntary retirement under a scheme announced on June 1. These employees comprise 22 per cent of permanent staff (around 7,000). The airline has a total employee strength of around 10,800, including those on contract.

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.

'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).

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.

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.