Archis Mohan, Nivedita Mookerji, Sanjeeb Mukherjee

Stories by Archis Mohan, Nivedita Mookerji, Sanjeeb Mukherjee

Can Voda Idea play on the front foot in a market fast resembling a duopoly?

Can Voda Idea play on the front foot in a market fast resembling a duopoly?

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2024

In August 2021, Nick Read, chief executive of Vodafone Plc at the time, did not mince his words while speaking about the India business in an earnings call. Replying to an analyst's question on Vodafone Idea, a venture with the Aditya Birla Group that had piled on huge debts and worrisome losses, Read described it as a highly stressed situation that "they (Vodafone Idea) are trying to navigate... "We, as a group, try to provide them as much practical support as we can, but I want to make it very clear, we are not putting any additional equity into India.''

Will SBI Reveal Names Behind Electoral Bonds?

Will SBI Reveal Names Behind Electoral Bonds?

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2024

Government unlikely to bring in an ordinance to address the developments arising out of the Supreme Court order.

Paytm Crisis: StartUp Founders Take Note

Paytm Crisis: StartUp Founders Take Note

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2024

Startup founders need to sit up and think about how not to take stardom for granted and how not to disappoint their fans who have stood in long queues for those precious selfies with popular entrepreneurs, notes Nivedita Mookerji.

Govt branches out: One highly beneficial neem tree for 10 Indians

Govt branches out: One highly beneficial neem tree for 10 Indians

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2024

The central government plans to increase the number of highly beneficial neem trees in the country from the existing one tree for every 50 Indians to one tree for every 10 Indians to meet the rising demand from different sectors for neem oil. Presently, India has 18-20 million neem trees in the country, of which 40-45 per cent are in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu, among others. To achieve the target, the number of neem trees has to rise to almost 140 million.

Does India Need A Population Policy?

Does India Need A Population Policy?

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2024

Experts recommend awaiting the findings of the 2021 Census, which is yet to be conducted, before introducing population control policies.

Is There Time For A Reset For Paytm?

Is There Time For A Reset For Paytm?

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2024

Going by the RBI directive and the overall narrative, Paytm may have lost the rigour of stress tests, audits and compliance.

'Congress Backing Lalu Irked Nitish Most'

'Congress Backing Lalu Irked Nitish Most'

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2024

At the core of Nitish Kumar's decision was a cold political calculation. He assessed that the RJD's support base was unlikely to vote for JD-U candidates in the Lok Sabha polls. He was unsure of winning even half a dozen if he stayed with the RJD and the Congress.

Flight Kitchens Under FSSAI Scanner

Flight Kitchens Under FSSAI Scanner

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2024

FSSAI is looking to tap the Airport Health Organisation to ensure that such incidents aren't reported in the future.

Why is India's cotton dream turning sour?

Why is India's cotton dream turning sour?

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2024

A few days back, Atul Ganatra, president of the Cotton Association of India, presented a grim scenario of the crop's prospects in the 2024-25 season that starts in October. Addressing the association's annual general meeting, Ganatra said the area under the crop could go down by at least 10 per cent in the coming season due to falling yields and realisation, leading to farmers losing interest. The fear of a decline in acreage comes against the backdrop of India's cotton production probably falling to its lowest in a decade, according to estimates.

New Annual Festivals On India's Calendar

New Annual Festivals On India's Calendar

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2024

In the last 9 years, the BJP govt has marked some anniversaries and events with more zeal than Congress-led governments.

BSP Beyond Behenji

BSP Beyond Behenji

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2024

'It is an existential crisis. We cannot recover lost ground through social media. We need to forge alliances and reshape our ideological contours.'

Why UAE's 'Hello Modi' Will Be Unusual

Why UAE's 'Hello Modi' Will Be Unusual

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2024

The effort is to make the PM's interaction with the diaspora at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Sports city stadium on February 13 the largest he has addressed.

Congress Backs Nitish As INDIA Convenor

Congress Backs Nitish As INDIA Convenor

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2024

Sources within the INDIA bloc said appointing Nitish Kumar as convenor would lend credibility to the INDIA bloc's demand for conducting a nationwide caste census.

BJP May Replace Half Its Lok Sabha MPs

BJP May Replace Half Its Lok Sabha MPs

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2024

Amit Shah wants to increase the party's nationwide vote share by at least 10 per cent from the 37.7 per cent it secured five years ago and ensure above 50 per cent vote share in the states where it came close to that benchmark, but couldn't cross it.

15,940 Indians Tried To Enter US Illegally In Oct-Nov

15,940 Indians Tried To Enter US Illegally In Oct-Nov

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2024

'Our missions do not have any reliable data on the number of Indians staying or working illegally in foreign countries,' the MEA says.

Is Rahul Looking Beyond May 2024?

Is Rahul Looking Beyond May 2024?

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2023

Rahul Gandhi's focus will be on his Nyay Yatra, rather than the INDIA bloc's election campaign, leading to speculation among allies that the Congress leader is already looking at the Opposition's fight beyond May 2024.

Hindutva outfit demands stringent OTT laws 'as in UAE'

Hindutva outfit demands stringent OTT laws 'as in UAE'

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2023

The outfit suggested that the government amend the Information Technology Act to classify all such content as pornography, which people should only be able to access by punching in their Aadhaar details or their fingerprints. Archis Mohan reports

Inequality a relative concept; absolute poverty India's urgent concern: CEA

Inequality a relative concept; absolute poverty India's urgent concern: CEA

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2023

Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran considers absolute poverty a more direct and pressing concern for India. He argues that inequality is a relative concept. Simultaneously, with formerly economically deprived sections joining the ranks of the middle class, policy attention needs to extend beyond 'roti, kapda, makaan' to keep the growth engine up and running.

How Women Change The Political Game

How Women Change The Political Game

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2023

More than ever before, women voters can make or mar a political party's electoral fortunes.

Cong Crowdfunding Sees 20,400 Bot Attacks, 1,340 Data Theft Attempts

Cong Crowdfunding Sees 20,400 Bot Attacks, 1,340 Data Theft Attempts

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2023

'Most of the bot attacks have originated from outside India.' 'Our firewalls are resilient and withstood the attacks.'