Ishaan Gera &Amp;Amp; Manojit Saha

Stories by Ishaan Gera &Amp;Amp; Manojit Saha

14 High Courts Register Decline In Pending PILs

14 High Courts Register Decline In Pending PILs

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2022

The disposal rate of PILs across 23 high courts was available was 83.7 per cent until August 2021 -- the highest in four years.

Sign of rising rural distress: MGNREGS demand up in poorest states

Sign of rising rural distress: MGNREGS demand up in poorest states

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2022

India's post-pandemic recovery appears to be shaping up like the letter K, widening the inequality among states. The last part of the series captures the rising rural distress, as seen through the prism of MGNREGS demand. The pandemic appears to have exacerbated rural distress in the poorest states.

5 states bag lion's share in formal jobs post Covid

5 states bag lion's share in formal jobs post Covid

Rediff.com   4 Oct 2022

In December 2020, as economists debated the shape the global economic recovery might take - Z, V, U, W or L - JP Morgan came up with the concept of the K-shaped curve. The investment bank used the shape of the letter K to illustrate the growing difference between large and small businesses in the United States. Since then, as the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated the gap between the rich and poor, the term has gained a larger connotation to embody the characteristics of development across economies.

Rupee trade: Two Russian banks get RBI nod for special vostro account

Rupee trade: Two Russian banks get RBI nod for special vostro account

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2022

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given its approval to two Russian banks for opening special vostro account for rupee trade. Sberbank, JSC VTB - the largest and second largest bank of Russia - are the first foreign lenders to receive this approval after the central bank announced the norms on INR trade in July. Both lenders have branch presence in India. Earlier this month, state-run UCO Bank received the RBI's approval to open a special Vostro account with Gazprombank of Russia. While the Kolkata-based lender is in the process of opening the account, the bank has received requests from various foreign lenders for opening such an account.

Banks alert customers about mobile banking malware targeting over 200 apps

Banks alert customers about mobile banking malware targeting over 200 apps

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2022

Several Indian banks have alerted their customers not to download apps from any source other than official app stores. Banking customers are being targeted by a new type of mobile banking malware campaign using SOVA Android Trojan. This malware captures the credentials when users log onto their net-banking apps and access bank accounts. The new version of SOVA appears to be targeting more than 200 mobile applications, including banking apps and crypto wallets.

Moscow now wants biz in ruble, trade may take a hit

Moscow now wants biz in ruble, trade may take a hit

Rediff.com   19 Sep 2022

Russian traders have started asking for payments in ruble for their exports to India in a move that could derail trade between the two countries which gathered pace after the war in Europe. This is because Indian importers are unable to pay in ruble. The India-Russia trade gathered pace after Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February this year. In the April-June quarter, India's imports from Russia were valued at $9.27 billion, up 369 per cent year on year.

Another 35-50 bps repo rate hike on cards

Another 35-50 bps repo rate hike on cards

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2022

With retail inflation surprising on the upside, the six-member monetary policy committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to increase the repo rate by 35-50 basis points (bps) in the review scheduled for September 28-30. According to economists, the central bank will continue to focus on bringing inflation down even though economic growth has remained sluggish. Data released by the government on Monday showed that the consumer price index (CPI)-based inflation increased by 7 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in August, thus, staying above the upper tolerance limit of the central bank for all the eight months of 2022.

Indian States have 25 Public Holidays!

Indian States have 25 Public Holidays!

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2022

The number of public holidays varies from 14 in Delhi to 34 in Odisha.

Drone Sales Increase To Rs 3.19 Bn

Drone Sales Increase To Rs 3.19 Bn

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2022

In absolute numbers, India had only 211 start-ups compared to 970 in the US.

'Around 100 million doses will definitely be wasted'

'Around 100 million doses will definitely be wasted'

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2022

'We are trying to salvage 50-100 million doses of Covishield with the latest drive on booster doses.'

HDFC Bank's Kaizad Bharucha took home the most among bankers in FY22

HDFC Bank's Kaizad Bharucha took home the most among bankers in FY22

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2022

Kaizad Bharucha, executive director of HDFC Bank, emerged the highest earning banker for 2021-22 (FY22). This was revealed in a remuneration assessment of the country's top bankers, according to annual reports. Bharucha, who oversees wholesale banking at HDFC Bank, received Rs 10.64 crore remuneration in FY22, mainly due to Rs 4.46 crore as performance bonus. Although earned between 2017-18 and 2020-21 (FY21), the bonus payout was partly paid in FY22.

Only 14.4 Judges Per Million Population

Only 14.4 Judges Per Million Population

Rediff.com   2 Aug 2022

The number of undertrials is at a historic high and comes at a time when vacancies in the judiciary -- across the lower courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court -- remain high.

500% Rise In Section 153A Zubair Was Booked Under

500% Rise In Section 153A Zubair Was Booked Under

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2022

Cases filed under Section 153A had one of the lowest conviction rates.

India-Japan Trade: The Abe Effect

India-Japan Trade: The Abe Effect

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2022

During Abe's tenure, Japan had announced support for a number of major projects. These included the bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, besides allocations for a freight corridor between Mumbai and New Delhi.

Entry-level jobs no more easy to come by in formal sector

Entry-level jobs no more easy to come by in formal sector

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2022

It is a trend that economists and researchers say might continue. The data shows the share of this age group in the net EPF accounts created - a proxy for net new formal jobs created - fell from 37.9 per cent in 2018-19 to 24.1 per cent in 2021-22.

Only 3% Indians Have Received Booster Dose

Only 3% Indians Have Received Booster Dose

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2022

Bihar, Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana and West Bengal accounted for 70 per cent of the precautionary doses given to the 18-59 age group.

Why govt's skill development initiative still struggles with placements?

Why govt's skill development initiative still struggles with placements?

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2022

Even as the government seeks to recruit one million people in 18 months, it is interesting that the record of its flagship skill development programme, which aims to enhance the employment potential of Indians, has been poor. To be sure, the progress was not great to begin with, and it inevitably deteriorated during the two years of the pandemic. When the government announced its first skill development initiative in 2015, it aimed to train as many people as possible and provide them with placements.

'No Challenge To SBI's Retail Loan Book'

'No Challenge To SBI's Retail Loan Book'

Rediff.com   21 Jun 2022

'When we look at the quality of our retail loan book, the non-performing asset percentage is low.'

Excess liquidity in banking system back to pre-Covid levels

Excess liquidity in banking system back to pre-Covid levels

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2022

Concerned over inflationary pressures in the economy, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is bringing down surplus liquidity in the system rapidly. It has fallen to pre-Covid levels and almost 2 per cent of banks' net demand and time liabilities (NDTL). NDTL shows the difference between the sum of demand and time liabilities (deposits) of a bank (with the public or the other bank) and the deposits in the form of assets held by the other bank.

The curious case of $1-billion SBI loan to debt ridden-Sri Lanka

The curious case of $1-billion SBI loan to debt ridden-Sri Lanka

Rediff.com   31 May 2022

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on March 17 had announced that State Bank of India (SBI) would extend a term loan of $1 billion to Sri Lanka, fully guaranteed by the Indian government, and this was part of India's financial aid to the troubled island nation. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was quoted saying by news agency PTI that the loan would be used for importing food, medicines, and other essential items. "India has always stood with the people of Sri Lanka and we will continue to extend all possible support at this juncture.