Ishita Ayan Dutt And Bhavini Mishra

Stories by Ishita Ayan Dutt And Bhavini Mishra

'Steel prices have already bottomed out'

'Steel prices have already bottomed out'

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2023

'While lower steel prices may impact a part of the quarter, this will be offset by softer raw material prices.'

Betting on India's growth, top steel firms in midst of big expansion plans

Betting on India's growth, top steel firms in midst of big expansion plans

Rediff.com   18 Jul 2023

On June 30, mining and metals giant Vedanta, announced that it had decided to initiate a strategic review of its steel and steel-making raw material businesses. The review would begin immediately and evaluate a broad range of options, including but not limited to a potential strategic sale of some or all of the steel businesses, the company said in its stock exchange filing. The signs have been there - approaches had been made to steel players over the past year. Last December, Anil Agarwal, chairman Vedanta group, told Business Standard that the steel plant capacity was about 3 million tonnes (mt).

As EVs rise in India, a requiem for Kolkata's electric trams

As EVs rise in India, a requiem for Kolkata's electric trams

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2023

Kolkata trams -- now in their 150th year -- are the last to survive modernity in Indian cities, writes Ishita Ayan Dutt.

Reading the tea leaves: Low production stirs chai industry's teapot

Reading the tea leaves: Low production stirs chai industry's teapot

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2023

The tea industry's cup of woes brimmeth - scanty rainfall and pest attacks have dragged down production in May, prices are lower than last year, and demand from some export markets is muted. Production in North Bengal - comprising the Dooars, Terai, and Darjeeling - is majorly affected; parts of Assam are also hit. Arijit Raha, secretary general, Indian Tea Association (ITA), said that the Tea Board numbers for April show a crop loss of about 9 per cent for North Bengal, compared to last year.

Howrah Bridge Heads For Health Check-up

Howrah Bridge Heads For Health Check-up

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2023

'We need to find out whether any structural element has got fatigue.' 'We want to increase the lifespan of the bridge.'

'Will come to decision on UK biz in 12 to 24 months'

'Will come to decision on UK biz in 12 to 24 months'

Rediff.com   16 May 2023

'It's an open secret that the UK business is structurally not in a great place.'

Let's get business running, crisis-hit Go First's IRP tells staff

Let's get business running, crisis-hit Go First's IRP tells staff

Rediff.com   12 May 2023

Go First chief executive officer Kaushik Khona and tribunal-appointed interim resolution professional Abhilash Lal on Thursday reached out to the airline's staff, seeking their support for revival. While Khona said the company had taken all steps for the airline's revival, Lal put forward the view it would have to raise funds. Employee engagement took place a day after the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted the airline's insolvency plea on Wednesday and ordered a moratorium on recoveries.

SBI seeks clarity from SC on granting personal hearing for defaulters

SBI seeks clarity from SC on granting personal hearing for defaulters

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2023

SBI has suggested that banks be exempted from handing over the complete forensic audit report to the borrower as it would hamper future investigation and forewarn the borrower by way of disclosure of confidential information.

Secret recipe of ITC's mega success

Secret recipe of ITC's mega success

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2023

A hotel in 1975, entry into paperboards in 1979, India's dominant cigarette maker, ITC, read the tea - or tobacco - leaves early, leveraged its enterprise strengths and stepped up the diversification agenda to create multiple drivers of growth. Some failed, some faltered, some were transformational, adding steadily to the top line. Now those efforts are making a difference: margins from non-cigarettes - FMCG, hotels, agri, paperboards, paper and packaging - are expanding and profits are kicking in more significantly than ever before.

Inflation slows down packaged tea consumption growth

Inflation slows down packaged tea consumption growth

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2023

Packaged tea consumption in India has been under pressure due to inflation across the consumption basket coupled with higher tea prices. This is forcing tea drinkers to downtrade, especially in rural areas. Milk prices have also gone up and this has impacted tea consumption along with delayed winters in the north, companies have said. NIQ (formerly known as NielsenIQ) data shows that the packaged tea category grew around 4 per cent in value and volume terms in 2022 compared to 2021.

WB Panchayat Polls: Dry Run For TMC, BJP

WB Panchayat Polls: Dry Run For TMC, BJP

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2023

'For the politics of patronage in West Bengal, it has always been important to have territorial control.'

Why the British operations remain a drag on Tata Steel's performance

Why the British operations remain a drag on Tata Steel's performance

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2023

Tata Steel has a very British problem. The performance of Europe dragged the steel major's October-December (Q3FY23) performance with the UK business accounting for a major part of the operating loss; on the bottom line, the overhang of the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS) showed. And a nearly three-year discussion with the UK government on a support package for a green transition resulted in an offer that fell short of the ask.

Sebi probing Hindenburg allegations against Adani Group

Sebi probing Hindenburg allegations against Adani Group

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2023

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the market regulator, has said, in a submission to the Supreme Court, that it is "enquiring" into the allegations made by American short-seller Hindenburg Research against the Adani Group of companies and its impact on the markets. In the same matter, the central government has agreed to form an expert committee to strengthen the regulatory regime in order to ensure that market investors are protected. The Supreme Court had last week suggested an expert committee to look into the allegations and had asked the Centre for its response.

What Employees Can Expect In 2023

What Employees Can Expect In 2023

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2023

'Enterprises have become more demanding in terms of their productivity expectation from their employees.'

Delhi HC awards Microsoft Rs 20 lakh in 12-yr-old copyright violation case

Delhi HC awards Microsoft Rs 20 lakh in 12-yr-old copyright violation case

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2022

The Delhi high court on Friday awarded Rs 20 lakh to Microsoft in damages in a 12-year-old copyright infringement suit. Microsoft said that a Mumbai-based firm was illegally using its software programs in which its copyrighted products, including Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office and Windows Server were being reproduced and used for commercial purposes at the firm's offices. The court had on May 24, 2010, passed an injunction restraining the Mumbai firm from infringing the plaintiffs' software programs.

SC junks Tata Power's plea on project award to Adani

SC junks Tata Power's plea on project award to Adani

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2022

In a setback to Tata Power, the Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the company's challenge to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission's (MERC's) decision to award a Rs 7,000-crore transmission project near Mumbai on a nomination basis to Adani Electricity. The court upheld the order by the Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) in this case and directed all State Electricity Regulatory Commissions to frame guidelines on tariff determination in accordance with Section 61 of the Electricity Act and the national policy. The verdict has implications for the Mumbai power market, said Ashok Pendse, an energy expert based in the city.

Finally, a shimmer of hope for the 'golden fibre'

Finally, a shimmer of hope for the 'golden fibre'

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2022

In the early part of 1800, a 30-acre plot next to Fort Gloster on the banks of river Hooghly in Howrah district of Bengal was the nerve centre of industrial activity; it housed India's first steam-powered cotton mill, Bowreah Mills, which was set up by a British merchant and went on to become a hub of factories - a rum distillery, foundry, cotton yarn factory, an oil mill and a paper mill, et al. Spearheaded by Dwarkanath Tagore, the industrialist grandfather of Rabindranath Tagore, the commercial complex was possibly the first of its kind in the country. Close to 200 years later, after much ebb and flow of history, the hub is set for a resurgence of sorts.

Stakes rise for bauxite blocks in Odisha on Adani Group's entry

Stakes rise for bauxite blocks in Odisha on Adani Group's entry

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2022

The next auction for bauxite blocks in Odisha may see heightened interest with Adani Group charting an entry into alumina refining and existing players looking to boost capacity. Hemant Sharma, principal secretary, Odisha industries department, said that three bauxite blocks have been scheduled for auctions this year. Adani Group - which will be setting up a 4-MMTPA alumina refinery and may enter aluminium production - is expected to bid for mines, though raw material linkages shall be available from Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).

Will Partha's arrest in SSC scam impact Mamata?

Will Partha's arrest in SSC scam impact Mamata?

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2022

After the Trinamool's overwhelming majority in the West Bengal assembly elections last year, the SSC scam has given fresh ammunition to the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India-Marxist. Ishita Ayan Dutt reports.

Consumer product companies likely to pause price hikes

Consumer product companies likely to pause price hikes

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2022

Indian consumers are likely to get respite from rising prices just before the festival season. Some consumer companies, including automakers, have indicated that they are planning to pause price hikes just before demand picks up in August, while keeping a close eye on volatile raw material prices.