Harsh Kumar, Ajinkya Kawale

Stories by Harsh Kumar, Ajinkya Kawale

Will Poll Gamechanger Laadki Bahin Continue?

Will Poll Gamechanger Laadki Bahin Continue?

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2024

'I wonder if they will keep it up after the elections.' 'I fear they'll start questioning eligibility -- income, age, bank accounts -- and eventually stop the scheme altogether.'

Crypto or not: Industry to focus on user protection, licensing regime

Crypto or not: Industry to focus on user protection, licensing regime

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2024

User protection and a proposal for a licensing framework for companies seeking to operate in the cryptocurrency area will be part of an upcoming consultation paper on the sector, said a senior industry executive. Even as specific regulations around crypto are yet to take shape, companies are setting up baseline user protection processes, including a redressal mechanism, fraud detection, regular filing of suspicious transaction reports (STRs), among others.

Maharashtra farmers seek better pricing for produce

Maharashtra farmers seek better pricing for produce

Rediff.com   20 Nov 2024

A group of onion traders gathered at the Pimpalgaon Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), near Nashik, to inspect one of the season's final harvests of red onions as they look to place their bids. They were surrounded by farmers, who brought their produce here from different parts of the district. Farmers have reasons to be optimistic.

PSBs clocked 11% growth in H1FY25

PSBs clocked 11% growth in H1FY25

Rediff.com   13 Nov 2024

The Union Finance Ministry on Tuesday said that aggregate business of public sector banks (PSBs) has shown strong growth of 11 per cent in the first half of the financial year 2024-25 (H1FY25) to touch Rs 236 trillion. The operating and net profit were also robust. At Rs 1.5 trillion, operating profit grew by 14.4 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) while the net profit saw an impressive 25.6 per cent jump at Rs 85,520 crore in the first half of FY25.

Brand Vistara Ends Its Journey

Brand Vistara Ends Its Journey

Rediff.com   12 Nov 2024

Starting November 12, Vistara aircraft will be operated under the Air India banner, to be identified by a special four-digit flight code beginning with "2".

'Focus Is To Maintain The Casa Ratio'

'Focus Is To Maintain The Casa Ratio'

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2024

'It has remained around 38 per cent over the past four to five quarters.'

Pillar Two tax regime unlikely soon as India moves with caution

Pillar Two tax regime unlikely soon as India moves with caution

Rediff.com   6 Nov 2024

The Union government is expecting to rake in Rs 100-200 crore in additional revenue from Pillar Two, only under specific circumstances, a senior finance ministry official said requesting anonymity. It is proceeding cautiously, and is unlikely to implement rules anytime soon, the source said.

NPCI nod to onboard users may help Paytm streamline UPI operations

NPCI nod to onboard users may help Paytm streamline UPI operations

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2024

One97 Communications (OCL), the company that operates brand Paytm, received a nod from the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to onboard new Unified Payments Interface (UPI) users. This comes nearly nine months after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) placed an embargo on OCL to add new customers.

Airfares Nosedive For Diwali!

Airfares Nosedive For Diwali!

Rediff.com   31 Oct 2024

'The past few quarters have seen prohibitive fares for advance bookings, only to dip closer to departure.'

CPSE dividend likely to cross record FY24 tally

CPSE dividend likely to cross record FY24 tally

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2024

The Centre may overshoot the Rs 56,260 crore target for dividend receipts from central public-sector enterprises (CPSEs) set for FY25 and is likely to end up getting around Rs 65,000 crore this financial year, according to a senior government official. This excludes dividend from nationalised banks and financial institutions. As on October 21, the Centre collected Rs 28,913 crore as dividend and other investment from CPSEs, accounting for over 50 per cent of the Budget Estimate for FY25.

Centre doubles Mudra loan ceiling to Rs 20 lakh under new category

Centre doubles Mudra loan ceiling to Rs 20 lakh under new category

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2024

The government on Friday doubled the limit of Mudra loan amount under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) to Rs 20 lakh from Rs 10 lakh under a new 'Tarun Plus' category to promote entrepreneurship in the country.

Modi's AI Mission Set To Take Off

Modi's AI Mission Set To Take Off

Rediff.com   25 Oct 2024

Under the India AI mission, supercomputing, comprising over 10,000 GPUs, will be made available to various stakeholders for creating an AI ecosystem.

Indian banks in Canada fear biz loss amid row

Indian banks in Canada fear biz loss amid row

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2024

If there is a decline in the number of Indian students pursuing higher studies in Canada due to the ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries, it may have implications for Indian banks operating in the North American country, senior bank officials said.

'Preparing to enter affordable housing loans space'

'Preparing to enter affordable housing loans space'

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2024

'Focus will be on smaller loan amounts to meet the needs of affordable homebuyers.'

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

Rediff.com   9 Oct 2024

The National Informatics Centre uses AI to automate document analysis and detect fraud in government departments.

WazirX creditors quiz founder, legal team on restructuring

WazirX creditors quiz founder, legal team on restructuring

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2024

In a recent townhall meeting, creditors of WazirX pressed founder Nischal Shetty and the restructuring legal team for solutions, seeking representation on the committee of creditors (CoC) and expeditious restructuring within four months, and asked for clarity on redistribution of potential gains from future crypto market upswings.

Supreme Court allows claiming input tax credit on construction expenses

Supreme Court allows claiming input tax credit on construction expenses

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2024

In a development that may encourage increased investment in commercial real estate, the Supreme Court on Thursday gave the industry relief by permitting input tax credit (ITC) on construction expenses for buildings meant to be leased. "If the construction of a building was essential for carrying out the activity of supplying services, such as renting or giving on lease or other transactions in respect of the building or a part thereof, which are covered by clauses (2) and (5) of Schedule II of the CGST (Central Goods and Services Tax) Act, the building could be held to be a plant," said Justice Abhay S Oka and Justice Sanjay Karol.

AI, ML Skills Are In High Demand

AI, ML Skills Are In High Demand

Rediff.com   4 Oct 2024

India leads the pack: 4.1 per cent of job postings demand such skills.

13 candidates in fray for PNB top job

13 candidates in fray for PNB top job

Rediff.com   2 Oct 2024

At least 13 candidates are in the race for the position of managing director and chief executive officer (MD & CEO) of Punjab National Bank (PNB), the second-largest public sector bank (PSB), according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. "Among the candidates, some are executive directors (EDs) and managing directors in major PSBs. "Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB) will conduct the interviews next month," said a source.

Singapore court grants WazirX four-month moratorium

Singapore court grants WazirX four-month moratorium

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2024

A Singapore court on Thursday granted a four-month moratorium to Indian cryptocurrency exchange WazirX, a period which the embattled firm will use to restructure its business without worrying about legal proceedings. A moratorium offers applicant temporary relief from legal proceedings. WazirX, India's biggest crypto exchange, suffered a major hacking attack in July this year losing close to $230 million.