Avik Das, Business Standard

Stories by Avik Das, Business Standard

The triumph of Sunil Mittal

The triumph of Sunil Mittal

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2009

Sunil Mittal's race up these rankings to No. 2 marks a triumph of core competence over diversification in India.

Freud on terrorists' mindset

Freud on terrorists' mindset

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2008

A new book delves into the mentality of suicide bombers.

Global crisis: What's the G20 plan

Global crisis: What's the G20 plan

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2008

Despite President Bush's attempts to talk up the 20-country emergency summit on financial markets and the world economy, it was hardly surprising that the outcome yielded little in terms of substantive solutions to a problem that goes beyond the immediate threat to global growth.

'Is firing labour the only solution for India Inc?

'Is firing labour the only solution for India Inc?

Rediff.com   22 Oct 2008

Clearly not. But to take the case of the Indian airline industry which is in the news, its fleet must be cut by a fifth but it can't do this unless it also has the right to fire workers.

How RIL gas find helps India's energy needs

How RIL gas find helps India's energy needs

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2008

Reliance's entry into the club of integrated energy majors, courtesy the start of oil production in the Krishna-Godavari basin, marks a strategic inflection point for India, as it comes some three decades after the last major find at Bombay High went into production.

Will Singur-type problems hit investment growth?

Will Singur-type problems hit investment growth?

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2008

Since most projects can be shifted to other states, the problem will be minimal, especially if industry can find ways to make farmers partners in their profits.

L K Advani on Indian 'superbrands'

L K Advani on Indian 'superbrands'

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2008

The environment for investment and business in many parts of India is far from satisfactory

BSE's journey derailed again

BSE's journey derailed again

Rediff.com   12 Aug 2008

The Bombay Stock Exchange's journey from being a brokers' club to becoming a professionally managed entity seems to have got derailed once again, with a spate of resignations in the past three months.

Time to say goodbye to bonus, promotions?

Time to say goodbye to bonus, promotions?

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2008

The high salary game perhaps made sense when there was an economic boom. Now as a slowdown looms, it makes sense for all companies to take a leaf out of ICICI's book and to do a reality check.

'Will high interest rates kill investment growth?'

'Will high interest rates kill investment growth?'

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2008

With high investment levels fuelling much of the current GDP growth, the impact of the credit squeeze is more than a matter of academic interest.

High oil prices? Chidambaram has a solution

High oil prices? Chidambaram has a solution

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2008

If the global economy slows down or slips into a recession due to high oil prices, that will eventually hurt all of us.

Should prices of petroleum products be raised?

Should prices of petroleum products be raised?

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2008

There is no doubt the oil companies are bleeding, but the issue is whether the government should also reduce the extra taxes it gets from high oil prices.

High salaries attract people to PSUs?

High salaries attract people to PSUs?

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2008

There are many issues that will have to be resolved before the committee's recommendations can be translated into practice. First, the backlash from clubby bureaucrats from the elite all-India services will have to be dealt with. Then, the experiment with a more flexible system and variable pay based on performance should not be introduced across the board, but tried out in a dozen or two enterprises, to see how it works in practice.

Free air tickets: Unfair trade practice?

Free air tickets: Unfair trade practice?

Rediff.com   22 May 2008

The Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission's decision to fine mobile phone firm Vodafone Rs 50 lakh (Rs 5 million) for offering prizes of gold coins and a Maruti SX4 as part of a promotional scheme is something all marketers in the country would do well to pay attention to.

India's agriculture at stake

India's agriculture at stake

Rediff.com   22 May 2008

The political exigencies are, unfortunately, likely to overwhelm the need for undoing the damage to the agricultural credit sector. At stake, therefore, is the much-needed resurgence of the Indian agriculture.

Govt suppressing inflation rate?

Govt suppressing inflation rate?

Rediff.com   19 May 2008

Inflation is far too important a problem to have to rely on an inadequate and, ultimately, unreliable database for solutions.

Will the RBI hike rates again?

Will the RBI hike rates again?

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2008

A repo rate hike may hurt growth far more than it will help deal with an inflation rate that is already dropping.

Will monetary tightening help fight inflation?

Will monetary tightening help fight inflation?

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2008

While the finance minister is in favour of sacrificing some growth to curb inflation, the problem lies in inflation being more a supply-side than a demand-led problem.

Real issue about food in <i>anganwadis</i>

Real issue about food in anganwadis

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2008

The controversy over whether the government should mandate cooked food or pre-packaged meals at child care centres (anganwadis) and for the mid-day meal scheme in primary schools under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) misses the wood for the trees.

Will the Fed rate cut help the economy?

Will the Fed rate cut help the economy?

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2008

In today's circumstances, however, getting people to borrow more is the last thing on the minds of financial service providers. Most of them are reeling under the weight of assets whose prices have declined precipitously because nobody in his right mind wants to buy them.