Karan Choudhury, Ajay Modi, Arnab Dutta

Stories by Karan Choudhury, Ajay Modi, Arnab Dutta

Consumer durable firms stare at uncertain future

Consumer durable firms stare at uncertain future

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2020

In 2020 a round of hikes in customs duty on components like compressors, motors and printed circuit boards aggravated the situation, coronavirus crisis is now leaving manufacturers with no option but to hike prices despite fall in sales.

Now, Apple is bitten by coronavirus

Now, Apple is bitten by coronavirus

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2020

The delay of the SE 2, billed as the cheapest iPhone and tentatively priced below Rs 40,000 in India, puts the brakes on the tech major's plans for a revival. With the supply chain at its largest manufacturer Foxconn in disarray, as it is struggling to operate in China because of the COVID-19 crisis, the postponement was inevitable.

Major boost for electronic giants, as SEZs clear local sourcing test

Major boost for electronic giants, as SEZs clear local sourcing test

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2020

While 100 per cent FDI is allowed in single-brand retail, if the foreign investment exceeds 51 per cent, the 30 per cent mandatory local sourcing norm kicks in.

Coronavirus scare: Manufacturers, retailers flock to offices of ministries

Coronavirus scare: Manufacturers, retailers flock to offices of ministries

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2020

From the rollback of customs duty on key electronic components to fast tracking delivery of goods imported from China, players are looking for incentives on several counts.

Coronavirus pain for Chinese mobile handset makers may be Samsung's gain

Coronavirus pain for Chinese mobile handset makers may be Samsung's gain

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2020

While the outbreak has forced most leading brands like Apple, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Realme to rework their launch dates and pricing strategies, Samsung, which struggled to maintain its hold over the market last year, has taken the lead.

Centre introduces ease of living index in 114 cities

Centre introduces ease of living index in 114 cities

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2020

Launched by the ministry of housing and urban affairs, the ease of living index (EoLI) is aimed at providing a holistic view of the country's cities. These will be done on parameters like services provided by local bodies, effectiveness of the administration, outcomes generated through those services in terms of liveability and citizens' perception of the outcomes.

How FM plans to boost electronic manufacturing in India

How FM plans to boost electronic manufacturing in India

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2020

But it may come with a downside risk of further rise in prices of several products.

PM Modi to move to a new home by 2024

PM Modi to move to a new home by 2024

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2020

Used since 1984 when late Rajiv Gandhi became the PM, the current residence was built over 12 acres of land, based on designs by New Delhi's chief architect Edwin Lutyens. However, with a new redevelopment blueprint on the table, the PM's residence is now expected to move to the South-West corner, behind South Block on Raisina Hill. Arnab Dutta reports.

Will Jewar airport transform Noida's real estate market?

Will Jewar airport transform Noida's real estate market?

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2020

Its proximity to popular tourist destinations like Agra, which attracts 45 per cent of the international passenger traffic at IGI, could be diverted to Jewar.

New Data Bill may hit tech businesses hard

New Data Bill may hit tech businesses hard

Rediff.com   19 Dec 2019

'If Indians are to be truly protected, Parliament must review and address these dangerous provisions before they become law.'

New data law: Alexa, Google Home may stop speaking

New data law: Alexa, Google Home may stop speaking

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2019

In the worst-case scenario, it will be next to impossible for tech companies like Amazon and Google to run any service that requires user biometrics.

In India, love affair with chocolates continues

In India, love affair with chocolates continues

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2019

Chocolate majors in India posted healthy top-line growth in FY19. While Mondelez India Foods - the marketer of Cadbury - continued to lead the pack, Nestle India, which dominates the confectionery space with leading brands like Kitkat and Munch, continues to hold the third spot in revenue. However, two of these companies - Mars International India and Hershey India - still remain in the red.

Social media firms deploy 15K people to check content

Social media firms deploy 15K people to check content

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2019

In platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, Helo, and ShareChat, mediators have been asked to put in more hours to ensure that no communal or fake news spread.

Battle of cola giants: And the winner is...

Battle of cola giants: And the winner is...

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2019

While Coca-Cola India improved its profit margin during the year, arch rival PepsiCo's margin was far lower. Coca-Cola India, which does not manufacture or market any products, gets majority of its revenue from royalty incomes against ownership of formulations for key products. Over the years, PepsiCo's operating revenue has come down significantly, as it kept divesting bottling plants to its franchise partners.

Data Bill: Industry experts fear massive implementation hurdles

Data Bill: Industry experts fear massive implementation hurdles

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2019

If the Personal Data Protection Bill gets passed in its present form, a new class of companies and entities could emerge. The sole job of these new entities would be to manage the consent for data usage of a user.Banks, healthcare firms and fintech companies, among others, fear that sharing non-personal data with the government may hurt business interests. Banks also fear the threat of data misuse.

E-commerce, tech firms call for clarity on Personal Data Protection Bill

E-commerce, tech firms call for clarity on Personal Data Protection Bill

Rediff.com   5 Dec 2019

The biggest fear many of the e-commerce firms have is the possible requirement to change business models overnight, which would drastically increase costs as well as disrupt businesses.

Coca-Cola moves out of bottling operations in North India

Coca-Cola moves out of bottling operations in North India

Rediff.com   5 Dec 2019

This means, Coca-Cola group will no longer bottle and market any of its beverages in the country.

Tech, service firms gear up for FASTag

Tech, service firms gear up for FASTag

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2019

Fintech giant Paytm claimed it is selling more FASTags than all the banks put together on a daily basis.

As green norms kick in from 2020, refrigerator prices to go up

As green norms kick in from 2020, refrigerator prices to go up

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2019

The added burden on manufacturers for recycling e-waste is expected to impact their margins, which may further lead them towards hiking prices of other items.

Patanjali finds the magic potion; its revenue up 2.4%

Patanjali finds the magic potion; its revenue up 2.4%

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2019

While the company did not reveal its profit or loss for the period, according to its fillings, food and beverages was the largest category - accounting for 62.23 per cent or Rs 5,184 crore of its total sales.