Namrata Acharya And Arup Roychoudhury

Stories by Namrata Acharya And Arup Roychoudhury

'Why are even our sewing needles made in China?'

'Why are even our sewing needles made in China?'

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2020

'We are not able to manufacture even low-end products as cheaply as China.' 'We are not buying Chinese goods today out of any love for China.'

Why demand for banking correspondents has surged

Why demand for banking correspondents has surged

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2020

However, despite the surge, the average income of banking correspondents has taken a beating due to the low value of transactions.

Battered banks staring at uncertain future

Battered banks staring at uncertain future

Rediff.com   22 Jun 2020

Like everything else, the structure of banks may change, and banks may depend more on digital technologies and artificial intelligence for dealing with both their customers and employees.

After Galwan standoff, India eyes free trade deal with US

After Galwan standoff, India eyes free trade deal with US

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2020

The trade deal, officials say, can lead to an effective trading bloc against the China-led Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Why MFIs could end up losing Rs 1,500 cr

Why MFIs could end up losing Rs 1,500 cr

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2020

Industry fears waiver of interest on interest would distort credit culture, may encourage borrowers who can pay to defer repayment.

Govt readies plan to boost demand with infra spend, cash transfer

Govt readies plan to boost demand with infra spend, cash transfer

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2020

This includes an infrastructure push which may lead to the government spending more than its budgeted capital expenditure for 2020-21. There are also discussions on increasing the scope and quantum of direct cash transfers to the beneficiaries who need it the most.

Current fiscal deficit may go up to 5.3% of GDP: CEA

Current fiscal deficit may go up to 5.3% of GDP: CEA

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2020

'Given the 50 per cent or thereabouts increase in borrowing that has been announced, it is a reasonable estimate to say that at this time, an increase of 1.7-1.8 per cent on the 3.5 per cent budgeted fiscal deficit target is being anticipated,' Chief Economic Adviser Krishnamurthy Subramanian said on Friday.

Government gets moving on insurance cover for job loss

Government gets moving on insurance cover for job loss

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2020

Following suggestion from Minister for Roads Nitin Gadkari, Centre seeks ideas from IRDAI and General Insurance Council on feasibility of providing insurance cover for retrenchment.

COVID insurance plan: Sum assured from Rs 1 lakh - Rs 5 lakh

COVID insurance plan: Sum assured from Rs 1 lakh - Rs 5 lakh

Rediff.com   3 Jun 2020

Unlike other health insurance policies, which mostly covers hospitalisation expenses alone, the specialised cover is likely to include the cost of treatment during quarantine and payment of cash for incidental expenses.

'This was not specifically a COVID package'

'This was not specifically a COVID package'

Rediff.com   30 May 2020

'It is a package for a new self-reliant India.'

Returning migrants: Boon or bane for states?

Returning migrants: Boon or bane for states?

Rediff.com   29 May 2020

For states like West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, where migration is high, the return of workers could be as much an opportunity as a liability. All states have launched portals to register migrant workers; additional fields like nature of employment and remuneration in the past 2-3 years are being added to help in skill mapping.

Govt wants PSUs to ramp up dividends, share buybacks

Govt wants PSUs to ramp up dividends, share buybacks

Rediff.com   28 May 2020

This comes at a time when the COVID-19 crisis is expected to derail the government's revenue maths for 2020-21, hitting the mop-up from sources such as taxes and divestment.

'We're well prepared to handle any surge in COVID-19 cases'

'We're well prepared to handle any surge in COVID-19 cases'

Rediff.com   27 May 2020

'States have done a tremendous job of identifying health facilities for COVID-19 care and equipping them well.'

Normalcy returning for shadow lenders, albeit slowly

Normalcy returning for shadow lenders, albeit slowly

Rediff.com   22 May 2020

For smaller MFIs, resuming operations is more difficult because they haven't got any fresh bank credit sanctioned from their lenders.

How states can avail extra borrowing from the markets

How states can avail extra borrowing from the markets

Rediff.com   20 May 2020

These conditions are implementation of the 'One Nation, One Ration Card' scheme, ease of doing business, power sector reforms, and urban local body reforms.

Sitharaman likely to focus on poor, farm sector next

Sitharaman likely to focus on poor, farm sector next

Rediff.com   14 May 2020

Later, there may be some tax relief aimed at the middle class and measures to benefit the sectors worst hit by Covid-19 and the resultant nationwide lockdown.

Sitharaman may announce Rs 3 trillion stimulus package this week

Sitharaman may announce Rs 3 trillion stimulus package this week

Rediff.com   12 May 2020

There could be multiple measures announced in quick succession, not only by the finance minister but also other ministers regarding their respective sectors, and by the Reserve Bank of India. The total size of these announcements could rival that of other G-20 nations as a percentage of GDP.

Bengal migrant workers denied Jan, Feb pays

Bengal migrant workers denied Jan, Feb pays

Rediff.com   11 May 2020

In Sandelerbil village alone in the Hingalgunj block in the Sundarbans, around 36 families from the Scheduled Caste community migrated from Tamil Nadu in March, where they had been working in a gas oven factory. A majority awaits dues promised but not paid. The story is no different in the villages of Manipur, Atapur, and Amtoli under the Sandeshkhali block in the Sundarbans.

Many challenges await new FinMin secretary

Many challenges await new FinMin secretary

Rediff.com   2 May 2020

The finance minister is ready to present a second financial package. The Centre has ruled out a mega stimulus and will rely on targeted, incremental packages. Industry is clamouring for a bailout, the liquidity upheaval in capital markets is nowhere close to being sorted out, and all budgetary forecasts now stand irrelevant, reports Arup Roychoudhury.

Industry will have to wait, 2nd stimulus package to target MSMEs, weaker sections

Industry will have to wait, 2nd stimulus package to target MSMEs, weaker sections

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2020

The beneficiaries of the second set of announcements are expected to be micro, small, and medium enterprises, farmers, women, poor, migrant workers, and other marginalised sections of the society, reports Arup Roychoudhury.