Neha Alawadhi &Amp;Amp; Surajeet Das Gupta

Stories by Neha Alawadhi &Amp;Amp; Surajeet Das Gupta

Can Ola disrupt India's e-scooter market?

Can Ola disrupt India's e-scooter market?

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2021

As a tech services company, Ola has never been in hardcore manufacturing. And unlike in ride hailing, which is a two-player market (Uber is the only other competitor), in two-wheelers it faces many entrenched players. But most of all, rivals say Ola's targets are out of sync with most, even ambitious, projections.

Data privacy: Tension between big technology firms and govt boils over

Data privacy: Tension between big technology firms and govt boils over

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2021

There is a perception getting built inside the government that big technology companies -- a common term used for firms like Facebook, Google, Twitter, Amazon and the like - are becoming very powerful and present multiple threats to entire nations and their citizens today. The digital ecosystem is replete with CSAM (child sexual abuse material), fake news, drug trade, radicalisation, trolling among other social vices. Given the network effect that these platforms have, it is important to ensure that these platforms are not misused.

IPL 2021: Star Sports hopes to earn Rs 32 billion

IPL 2021: Star Sports hopes to earn Rs 32 billion

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2021

Disney-Star generated advertising revenue of over Rs 27 billion for IPL 2020.

Indian firms reject Google Play's new bill plan

Indian firms reject Google Play's new bill plan

Rediff.com   19 Mar 2021

Indian industry snubbed Google Play's decision to cut by half its commission for developers when they make $1 million in annual revenue for in-app purchases, saying the US tech giant may continue its "abrasive & monopolistic abuse" as it owns the Android system. Google Play said Tuesday that beginning July 1 it would slash its 30 per cent billing fee to 15 per cent for developers globally when they make the first $1 million of their annual revenue.

Amul to start making buffalo mozzarella cheese

Amul to start making buffalo mozzarella cheese

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2021

Italy may be the home of premium buffalo mozzarella cheese, but India could soon give the country a run for its money in this regard. India's largest dairy cooperative, Amul, has submitted a plan to the government, aiming to turn the country into a global hub for the export of mozzarella cheese made from buffalo milk, which is sold at a hefty premium around the world. Mozzarella cheese is one of the products identified by the government for support under its Rs 10,900 crore production-linked incentive scheme (PLI), to give a massive push to food processing exports as well as to build Indian food brands.

Private philanthropy outstripped corporate largesse by 42% in FY20

Private philanthropy outstripped corporate largesse by 42% in FY20

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2021

Individuals flew the flag for philanthropy in FY20, escalating their contribution significantly in comparison with company and foreign fund donations, according to the Dasra/Bain & Co India Philanthropy Report of 2021. Funding by individual philanthropists went up by 42 per cent from Rs 21,000 crore in FY19 to Rs 30,000 crore in FY20.

Haryana's local hire law may impact 150,000 IT jobs in the state

Haryana's local hire law may impact 150,000 IT jobs in the state

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2021

A majority of the companies said the law, aimed at jobs with a monthly salary cap of Rs 50,000, will result in them leaving Haryana or growing their operations in other states and abroad.

Haryana's 75% job quota for locals challenged in HC

Haryana's 75% job quota for locals challenged in HC

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2021

Experts have said the reservation provision will set unrealistic goals for organisational hiring, but will also reduce productivity by reducing the available talent pool to a few people within the state.

Atmanirbhar and PLI: Why Modi's ambitious manufacturing targets are unachievable

Atmanirbhar and PLI: Why Modi's ambitious manufacturing targets are unachievable

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2021

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met over 40 CEOs across broad swathes of industry, ranging from makers of mobile devices, auto components, food products to telecom networking equipment and pharmaceuticals. The agenda: To discuss how to make India an integral part of the global supply chain. The focus of the discussion would be the much touted yet not so well understood production-linked incentive scheme (PLI), the centrepiece of the government's drive to massively boost the manufacturing sector. To do so, the government has created a war chest of over Rs 197,000 crore to be paid out as incentives to over 14 industries in five years. There are three objectives to the scheme, two explicitly stated, one implied.

Zostel claims win in 3-year legal battle against OYO, latter refutes

Zostel claims win in 3-year legal battle against OYO, latter refutes

Rediff.com   8 Mar 2021

Zostel could get upwards of $600 million if arbitration goes through.

India had highest number of Internet shutdowns at 109 in 2020

India had highest number of Internet shutdowns at 109 in 2020

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2021

From Belarus to Bangladesh, authorities in 29 countries shut down or interfered with the internet at least 155 times in 2020.

Edtech, logistics and gig-economy to drive jobs

Edtech, logistics and gig-economy to drive jobs

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2021

Fresher hiring is expected to more than double compared to last year.

Over 10 Indian start-ups may mop up at least $10 billion in IPO rush

Over 10 Indian start-ups may mop up at least $10 billion in IPO rush

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2021

Over 10 Indian start-ups with total valuations of $84 billion (some are planning fresh fund-raising) are bracing to launch initial public offerings (IPOs) in the next 36 months. While the size of their IPOs is under discussion, estimates are that they would together raise a minimum of over $8-10 billion during the initial listing.

Has India lost out in the global 5G race?

Has India lost out in the global 5G race?

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2021

Several factors have held India back. One is DoT policy somersaults and lack of clarity on whether to or not to ban Chinese gear makers.

Corporate air travel takes wing on economic revival

Corporate air travel takes wing on economic revival

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2021

Online travel portals and airlines say the demand from companies is being led by essential services sectors like pharmaceutical, oil and gas, and power.

Airtel and Jio go head to head in battle for 5G

Airtel and Jio go head to head in battle for 5G

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2021

The Big Two telecom companies have accelerated their moves towards this next-gen technology, though they have chosen very different routes to getting there.

Do you use Koo app? Please be careful!

Do you use Koo app? Please be careful!

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2021

French security researcher Robert Baptiste posted a screenshot suggesting the micro-blogging platform that offers a Twitter-like experience in Indian languages had Chinese connections.

Twitter invokes freedom of expression, weighs legal options

Twitter invokes freedom of expression, weighs legal options

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2021

The networking giant said it has taken steps to reduce the visibility of hashtags containing harmful content, which included prohibiting them from trending and appearing as recommended search terms.

Amid Twitter standoff, Union ministers shifting to Koo

Amid Twitter standoff, Union ministers shifting to Koo

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2021

Koo, which works on similar lines as Twitter, was born with a focus on regional language, unlike Twitter and Facebook, which are very popular but primarily cater to an English-speaking audience, reports Neha Alawadhi.

MPs watching Facebook Trump ban

MPs watching Facebook Trump ban

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2021

MPs asked if the platforms have the right to take down or suspend accounts.