Kalpana Pathak And Swaraj Baggonkar

Stories by Kalpana Pathak And Swaraj Baggonkar

B-schools prod students to float ventures

B-schools prod students to float ventures

Rediff.com   9 Feb 2009

Mumbai-based SP Jain Institute of Management and Research has announced that it will provide initial financial assistance to the tune of Rs 20 lakhs (Rs 2 million)to any of its students who wishes to don the entrepreneurial hat. The business school has set up an entrepreneurship cell in association with National Entrepreneurship Network.

Oil marketers plan 3-fold hike in outlets

Oil marketers plan 3-fold hike in outlets

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2009

After a year of sluggish growth in fuel retail outlets, the three state-run oil-marketing companies--Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation--have chalked out aggressive plans for expansion in the next financial year. They will be commissioning over 2,100 outlets in 2009-10--over three times what they added in the current year--at an investment of about Rs 1,200 crore.

KG gas ruling: Fertiliser, power firms to benefit

KG gas ruling: Fertiliser, power firms to benefit

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2009

According to sources, the government has provided a list of 20 companies to Reliance Industries for sale of gas as per the gas utilisation policy. Some of these companies include Nagarjuna Fertilizer & Chemicals, Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals, Tata Fertilizers and Oswal Chemicals & Fertilizers among others.

Oil marketers to take a Rs 1,100-crore hit

Oil marketers to take a Rs 1,100-crore hit

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2009

The fuel price revision on Wednesday is likely to wipe out the Rs 1,100 crore net revenue earned by the three oil marketing companies--Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation -- in the last one month, say officials from these companies.

Oil PSUs deny govt claim on execs' pay

Oil PSUs deny govt claim on execs' pay

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2009

At present, the annual cost-to-company of an entry-level officer in an oil-marketing company stands at Rs 6,30,000 per annum, including the annual performance bonus and various allowances, perks and retirement benefit that these officers are entitled to.

UK govt, Tatas in talks for JLR loan

UK govt, Tatas in talks for JLR loan

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2009

Tata Motors, which owns Jaguar and Land Rover, is in talks with the UK government on assistance for the luxury units as sales have plummeted.

Shipping Corp-ONGC rig venture in trouble

Shipping Corp-ONGC rig venture in trouble

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2009

Falling oil rates have made rigs available for hire at a cheaper rate. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation planned to foray into building rigs in June 2008 owing to its short supply as crude oil prices zoomed northwards.

Ford hikes prices as import costs surge

Ford hikes prices as import costs surge

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2009

Ford India, the Chennai-based automobile company of the US giant, said today that it has raised prices of all its models, except the Ikon, by as much as Rs 25,000 due to a strong surge in import costs recently.

M&M to launch 10 models in two years

M&M to launch 10 models in two years

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2009

The launches will be be both in the passenger vehicle segment as well as the commercial vehicle segment of truck and low tonnage vehicles. M&M, like its competitors in the overseas market, has decided to make increased use of a single platform for several models. A vehicle platform is the basic structure on which a vehicle is built, which defines its general size, strength and body construction.

PSUs upbeat on alternative energy

PSUs upbeat on alternative energy

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2009

For instance, Indian Oil Corporation, the nation's biggest marketer and refiner, doubled its R&D spend from Rs 30 crore to Rs 60 crore (Rs 600 million) this year. The company is conducting research in areas like biodegradable lubricants and oil refining technology. The company will shortly commission a pilot at its Faridabad centre, where it will install technology for coal gassification and production of ethanol from biomass.

Leela lines up Rs 2,500 cr to set up 3 hotels

Leela lines up Rs 2,500 cr to set up 3 hotels

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2009

With the addition of new capacities, the company aims to double its turnover to Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) by end of FY10 from Rs 514 crore posted during the last financial year ended March 31, 2008. New hotel properties will come up in Chennai, New Delhi and Udaipur. This will increase its room inventory to almost 2,000 rooms from 1,125 rooms.

Mahindra yet to get US nod to launch vehicles

Mahindra yet to get US nod to launch vehicles

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2009

India's largest sport utility vehicle maker Mahindra & Mahindra's plan of launching its vehicles in the US has suffered a delay of almost 12 months following clearance awaited from the US homologation department.

Firms request IIMs to waive placement fees

Firms request IIMs to waive placement fees

Rediff.com   14 Jan 2009

Many domestic and foreign companies in banking and financial services, consulting and consumer goods are believed to have written to the Indian Institutes of Management, requesting them to waive participation and recruitment fees.

Auction of oil, gas blocks may be delayed

Auction of oil, gas blocks may be delayed

Rediff.com   14 Jan 2009

With 4,00,000 sq km in acreage and over 100 blocks to be awarded, Nelp VIII is touted as India's biggest-ever auction of oil and gas blocks. Industry observers say there is a strong case for the government to postpone the Nelp VIII, keeping in account the present liquidity situation and low crude oil prices. "It will make sense to postpone Nelp VIII as a lot of exploration and production companies are re-looking at their investment strategies," said a sector expert.

Oil sector officers demand reinstatement

Oil sector officers demand reinstatement

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2009

Oil sector officers, who brought the country to a grinding halt, by going on strike for nearly three days, will appeal to their respective management to reinstate the employees sacked by the companies.

Air car may blow in next year

Air car may blow in next year

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2009

The Air Car, made by French company MDI, could be launched by Tata Motors in India by 2010-11.

Stimulus for commercial vehicles may fll flat

Stimulus for commercial vehicles may fll flat

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2009

R Sridhar, managing director, Shriram Transport Finance Company, said, "The depreciation advantage will only benefit large and medium truck and bus operators, who are also tax payers. But their size in the market is quite small when compared to small operators who form about 75 per cent of the CV market."

Crisis: Automakers reworking export strategy

Crisis: Automakers reworking export strategy

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2009

A majority of HMIL's current export comprises the i10 model, which is exported to Asia, Latin America and Western Europe. In addition, the company has stated that 90 per cent of the i20 model (a premium hatchback) will be exported. The company will produce 150,000 units of the model annually.

FMCG sector fares well in campus hiring

FMCG sector fares well in campus hiring

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2008

After a gap of five years, Hindustan Unilever has bagged slot zero position on B-school campuses. In 2007, the company had slipped to number 14 on the recruiters' list of B-schools. "It's an improvement of our brand value and affirmation of our employer brand," says Leena Nair, executive director HR, Hindustan Unilever.

Bharat Forge to cut output

Bharat Forge to cut output

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2008

Bharat Forge, India's largest auto components maker, said it will cut production as demand from car makers shrink.