Arnab Dutta &Amp;Amp; Arindam Majumder

Stories by Arnab Dutta &Amp;Amp; Arindam Majumder

'Covid has made Ayurveda mainstream'

'Covid has made Ayurveda mainstream'

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2021

'The spurt in demand for Ayurvedic products has exhausted our production capacity.'

Tata Sons sets the ball rolling for buying Air India

Tata Sons sets the ball rolling for buying Air India

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2021

Tata Sons has started the process of due diligence of state-owned Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express. Sources said the group has appointed Bain and Company and Seabury Group for this purpose. Once complete, a financial bid will be submitted and a deal to take over the airline is likely to fructify by end of this year or even earlier, people involved in the process said. Simultaneously, the group has brought in veterans in the aviation business from Delta and United Airlines to prepare a plan for post-merger integration of Air India with its existing airline ventures. Tata Sons operates Vistara - a 51:49 percent joint venture with Singapore Airlines and Air Asia India, in which Tatas hold 83.67 per cent stakes.

'Not seen such inflation in 7-8 years'

'Not seen such inflation in 7-8 years'

Rediff.com   20 Jul 2021

Higher prices are burdening household budgets and threatening the margins of leading manufacturers.

Covid robs Moradabad's Brass City of its shine

Covid robs Moradabad's Brass City of its shine

Rediff.com   18 Jul 2021

According to the local Brass Handicrafts Manufacturers Association (BHMA), some 800,000 people are directly employed in Moradabad's massive brass handicrafts and utensils manufacturing industry, which has some 30,000 small and micro-scale units and a total annual turnover of Rs 10,000 crore. The manufacturers are heavily dependent on export markets such as the US, Canada, Australia and the European Union. And exports account for nearly 70 per cent of their revenues. According to industry insiders, since this year's lockdowns, manufacturing has been at 65 per cent of normal levels.

Jyotiraditya Scindia's Biggest Challenge

Jyotiraditya Scindia's Biggest Challenge

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2021

A free and open aviation market, where the government keeps the interest of consumers higher than saving any airline.

Despite Jammu attack India set to relax drone policy

Despite Jammu attack India set to relax drone policy

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2021

While there were concerns about the security aspect of drones, top government officials were of the view that restricting the drone industry would stifle a sunrise sector which holds significant promise for future, reports Arindam Majumder.

Samsung officials questioned by DRI over alleged duty evasion

Samsung officials questioned by DRI over alleged duty evasion

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2021

The probe agency is learnt to have taken possession of multiple physical and digital records during a search operation conducted on the premises of the South Korean firm in Delhi and Mumbai this week.

India Inc getting back in biz with no-jab-no-entry policy

India Inc getting back in biz with no-jab-no-entry policy

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2021

With the threat of a third Covid-19 wave looming large, companies are scrambling to protect employees and keep operations safe--from a no-jab-no-entry-at-workplace policy to ramping up vaccination, it's an all-out effort to prevent the scale of devastation seen in the first two waves. At least two top steel companies--Tata Steel and ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India)--are pushing for vaccination certificates for entry into work premises. AM/NS India, a joint venture between world's leading steelmaker, ArcelorMittal, and Japan's Nippon Steel, is set to make vaccination the certificate a requirement from July 1.

A 2019 investigation of Bombay Dyeing may delay Go Air IPO

A 2019 investigation of Bombay Dyeing may delay Go Air IPO

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2021

A 2019 investigation of Bombay Dyeing by market regulator Sebi has put a brake on the initial public offering process of sister company Go Air. The Wadia group-owned low cost airline had earlier planned to launch the IPO to raise Rs 3,600 crore by August, but may be forced to postpone it by a month or two as Sebi completes its investigation.

India's consumption story moving fast once again

India's consumption story moving fast once again

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2021

Sanjiv Mehta, chairman of the country's largest consumer goods company, HUL, believes that the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic between April and June this year has been a mere pause in India's consumption story, and that it will not change the country's overall growth trajectory. India is poised for growth, especially in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector, Mehta told shareholders at the company's annual general meeting on Tuesday. The signs of recovery are becoming evident with many states lifting lockdown restrictions in recent weeks.

Motown gears up for fast-lane drive as second wave of Covid-19 abates

Motown gears up for fast-lane drive as second wave of Covid-19 abates

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2021

As the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic abates, India's automakers are hopeful of a quick recovery in sales volumes, led by better rural sentiment, low interest rates, improved availability of finance and a gradual uptick in business and economic activity. In fact, companies have started to ramp up production already, encouraged by high order books and the growing preference for private transport in both rural and urban areas as a means to avoid infections. In early April, the industry had been bullish as the sales trend for March showed that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic had been left behind. The total vehicle sales had grown by 77 per cent, albeit on a lower base, and for the past few months, sales had consistently touched 300,000 units per month.

Jet Airways assured of slots by around 30 airports

Jet Airways assured of slots by around 30 airports

Rediff.com   28 Jun 2021

The Kalrock-Jalan consortium - new owners of Jet Airways - has got an assurance from around 30 airports that if the airline restarts operations, 170 pairs of slots can be made available. However, whether those slots will be according to the airline's demand will depend on the order of the insolvency court, which is slated to come next week. Sources said the new management feels it is extremely important that some of those slots are restored or else its business plan of operating Jet as a premium carrier will not be viable.

'We are on week to week business planning'

'We are on week to week business planning'

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2021

'The fundamentals look strong, but we will have to see if they translate into actual demand.' 'Because the April-May marriage season didn't see much sales due to the lockdown.'

Three-row SUVs are the latest draw for auto firms

Three-row SUVs are the latest draw for auto firms

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2021

Close to half a dozen more three-row premium mid-size models are expected to hit the road over the next two years.

As cargo business grows, SpiceJet, IndiGo ready for new battle

As cargo business grows, SpiceJet, IndiGo ready for new battle

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2021

Analysts remain sceptical on the profitability from freighter business, saying that once normal air transport resumes and there's abundant belly capacity, the traditional economics of air cargo may not be that lucrative.

Govt invites tender for delivery of Covid jabs by drones

Govt invites tender for delivery of Covid jabs by drones

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2021

However, the tender criteria demands that an entity must be eligible to conduct Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations in order to become eligible. Currently, no drone companies are eligible to do BVLOS operations, reports Arindam Majumder.

Covid blues fail to dampen Apple's dream run

Covid blues fail to dampen Apple's dream run

Rediff.com   27 May 2021

Rising prevalence of work-from-home and e-learning is driving sales of notebooks and tablets for most brands, but Apple's superior performance has more to do with its product quality.

Apple takes a big bite out of locked down India, posts record JFM sales

Apple takes a big bite out of locked down India, posts record JFM sales

Rediff.com   14 May 2021

Apple was a fringe player in all key categories like smartphones, notebooks, and tablets till recently. But with the last quarter's record-breaking performance, the brand has established itself in the country's price-sensitive consumer electronics market.

IndiGo plans to raise funds as 2nd coronavirus wave hits travel

IndiGo plans to raise funds as 2nd coronavirus wave hits travel

Rediff.com   13 May 2021

IndiGo, India's largest airline, is in talks to raise fresh funds as a second wave of pandemic has led to collapse in travel demand. The airline may look to raise Rs 3,500-4,000 crore. On Monday, only 97,761 passengers flew. With flyers cancelling bookings, airlines had to put aside flights and operated only 1,306 of them.

Mobile phone production down 50% amid Covid-19 surge

Mobile phone production down 50% amid Covid-19 surge

Rediff.com   12 May 2021

According to research firm IDC, a slowdown in smartphone shipments began showing up as early as late February, though companies insist that the March quarter was fine, albeit on a low base.