Prasoon Srivastava And Moumita Bakshi Chatterjee

Stories by Prasoon Srivastava And Moumita Bakshi Chatterjee

ED offers Flipkart to close FEMA violation case by paying penalty

ED offers Flipkart to close FEMA violation case by paying penalty

Rediff.com   12 Oct 2025

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is learnt to have offered the option of closing a FEMA violation case against e-commerce major Flipkart if the Walmart group firm admits its mistake and pays a penalty, sources aware of the development said.

iPhone Pro Max 17 in cosmic orange is already out of stock in India, US

iPhone Pro Max 17 in cosmic orange is already out of stock in India, US

Rediff.com   16 Sep 2025

Apple's iPhone Pro Max 17 in cosmic orange has witnessed a considerable surge in demand, and it has gone out of stock within three days after pre-booking went live for pick up of the devices at the company's official stores in the US and India, as per information shared by company staff.

Foxconn starts producing iPhone 17 at Bengaluru facility

Foxconn starts producing iPhone 17 at Bengaluru facility

Rediff.com   17 Aug 2025

Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn's Bengaluru factory, its second-largest manufacturing unit, has commenced operation with production of iPhone 17 recently at a small scale, sources aware of the development said. Foxconn is the largest manufacturer of iPhones, and the second-biggest facility outside China in Devanahalli near Bengaluru, being set up at an investment of $2.8 billion (about Rs 25,000 crore).

TCS to hike salaries of about 80% employees, effective Sep 1

TCS to hike salaries of about 80% employees, effective Sep 1

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2025

India's largest IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Wednesday informed employees that it will roll-out wage hikes for about 80 per cent of workforce, covering mid to junior levels.

OpenAI says India poised to be AI talent powerhouse

OpenAI says India poised to be AI talent powerhouse

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2025

India has always led in developer talent and now has a strong opportunity to lead in AI talent, OpenAI Global Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) Jason Kwon said on Thursday as the ChatGPT-maker launched OpenAI Academy in partnership with IndiaAI Mission.

Mysuru layoffs: Infosys denies using force, intimidation tactics

Mysuru layoffs: Infosys denies using force, intimidation tactics

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2025

IT services company Infosys on Wednesday said it did not use force or intimidation tactics when it laid off trainees at Mysuru campus over performance-related issues, and that it was explaining the circumstances to the labour department authorities. In an interview to PTI, Shaji Mathew, chief human resources officer at Infosys, however, conceded that assessment failure percentages this time around have been "slightly higher" than in the past but dismissed charges that the tests had been designed for failure.

AI will play big role here: Google India MD

AI will play big role here: Google India MD

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2024

Having marked a 20-year milestone in India, global tech giant Google is upbeat about its next innings here with Artificial Intelligence (AI) playing a big role in it, India MD Roma Datta Chobey said on Thursday, adding that the company is aligning its vision and strategy fully to the country's growth and ambitions. In an interview to PTI, Chobey said Google believes that AI should be regulated but in a way that strikes a fine balance between user benefit -- which is "still at a nascent stage" -- and at the same time, fosters innovation.

Lenovo to make AI servers in India, establishes 4th largest R&D centre in country

Lenovo to make AI servers in India, establishes 4th largest R&D centre in country

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2024

PC maker Lenovo India will start manufacturing 50,000 GPU-based AI servers in India next year, the company said on Tuesday. Besides this, Lenovo announced setting up its fourth largest research and development centre in Bengaluru. Lenovo India managing director Shailendra Katyal said that the company will make servers locally and also export them from its manufacturing unit in Puducherry.

Naukri, 99acres, few apps back on Google Play Store post govt action

Naukri, 99acres, few apps back on Google Play Store post govt action

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2024

Taking a strong view of Google pulling out some apps from its Play Store, the government on Saturday said delisting of Indian apps cannot be permitted and that the tech company and the startups concerned have been called for a meeting next week. In an interview to PTI, IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the startup ecosystem is key to the Indian economy and their fate cannot be left to any big tech to decide. The minister's comments assume significance as Google on Friday began removing some apps, including popular matrimony apps, from its Play Store in India over a dispute on service fee payments, even as apps and well-known startup founders cried foul.

Deepfake a problem for holding safe, fair polls: Govt

Deepfake a problem for holding safe, fair polls: Govt

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2023

India is headed for general elections early next year, and the DIA is expected to be legislated only after the 2024 polls and the formation of the government.

Startup story set for better script in 2024 after a bleak '23

Startup story set for better script in 2024 after a bleak '23

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2023

Funding winter and corporate governance woes separated the men from the boys in the country's startup space in 2023 that saw funds into the segment tapering to just around $8 billion. All said, investors are hopeful of strong growth of the maturing startup ecosystem in the new year. Edtech and health tech segments that grew exponentially during the pandemic plunged into an abyss of financial uncertainties, with several firms shuttering their business, and valuation of prominent players like BYJU'S and PharmEasy plummeting 85-90 per cent.

Indian telcos surpass 3-year 5G rollout target in six months

Indian telcos surpass 3-year 5G rollout target in six months

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2023

Indian telecom operators have surpassed the three- year 5G network rollout target given to them within six months and now the government is making efforts to enhance adoption of 5G applications across various key segments, a senior government official said in Barcelona. Department of Telecom Additional Secretary VL Kantha Rao told PTI at "India Evening" event on the sidelines of Mobile World Congress 2023 that the government has hosted over 50 companies at the India pavilion and the delegation is here to showcase indigenously-developed 4G and 5G technology stack. "When the spectrum was allocated to telecom service providers for 5G rollout, we gave a minimum rollout obligation saying that within one year they have to cover a few cities within three years, a few towns and so on and so forth.

AWS upbeat on India market, sees massive headroom for growth in cloud adoption

AWS upbeat on India market, sees massive headroom for growth in cloud adoption

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2022

Within days of announcing mega investments for building in Hyderabad its second data centre cluster in India, Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Monday said it is excited about the India market, where cloud adoption offers massive headroom for growth. Pledging its long-term commitment to the India market, AWS, Amazon's cloud computing unit, said it expects global uncertainties to accelerate the decisions by companies to opt for flexible, on-demand cloud infrastructure to pare costs, gain efficiencies and drive business innovation. "Cloud reacts well to uncertainty," Puneet Chandok, president - commercial business, AWS India and South Asia, Amazon Internet Services Pvt Ltd (AISPL) told PTI.

Flipkart burns over $3.7 billion cash in about a year till Sep 2022

Flipkart burns over $3.7 billion cash in about a year till Sep 2022

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2022

E-commerce major Flipkart has burnt cash of $3.7 billion (about Rs 30,000 crore) in about a year ending September 2022, according to regulatory filings. Flipkart had $1 billion in cash in July 2021, which came down to $887 million by September 2022. The company, in July 2021, raised $3.6 billion (about Rs 29,000 crore), which has been completely exhausted, according to regulatory filings of Flipkart and Walmart.

Govt to buy Vodafone Idea stake after share price stabilises at Rs 10 or above

Govt to buy Vodafone Idea stake after share price stabilises at Rs 10 or above

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2022

The government will acquire a stake in debt-ridden Vodafone Idea after the stock price of the company stabilises at Rs 10 or above, according to an official source. Vodafone Idea (VIL) board has offered a stake to the government at a par value of Rs 10 per share. "There is a SEBI norm that the acquisition should take place at par value. DoT will clear the acquisition after VIL shares stabilise at Rs 10 or above," an official source told PTI. VIL shares are trading below Rs 10 since April 19.

Founders built an incredible organisation; Infosys in stable position: CEO Salil Parekh

Founders built an incredible organisation; Infosys in stable position: CEO Salil Parekh

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2022

Infosys CEO Salil Parekh, has praised the company's founders for building an "incredible organisation", and exuded confidence that the firm which "has always been solid" will "continue with that stability." Parekh - who steered the firm to stability after a bitter spat between founders and then-management a few years back - believes that Infosys is "well positioned" to leverage tech-led growth opportunities over the next several years. Parekh took over at the helm in January 2018, after a standoff between board and founders, including NR Narayana Murthy, over issues such as governance, led to the exit of then-CEO Vishal Sikka.

In 8-10 months, stage will be set for India's semiconductor biz: Minister

In 8-10 months, stage will be set for India's semiconductor biz: Minister

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2022

The government will undertake a detailed evaluation of applications it has received in response to the mega semiconductor scheme and expects to complete the entire process and sign agreements with companies in next 8-10 months, according to Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw. Vaishnaw said he is happy with the response that came in within a short period of time, when the ministry invited applications under the Rs 76,000 crore semiconductor programme. The government is confident of seeing one of the big global players in semiconductor industry coming in the next round, Vaishnaw told PTI in an interview. He asserted that many other players too are "seriously evaluating" India's semiconductor programme, and that the ministry is in discussions with several companies.

Vedanta to invest up to $20 bn in chip business

Vedanta to invest up to $20 bn in chip business

Rediff.com   18 Feb 2022

Indian conglomerate Vedanta has earmarked $15 billion for foray into the electronic chip and display manufacturing space, and plans to scale up the investment to as much as $20 billion, a senior company official said. Vedanta's group firm Avanstrate, which will spearhead the semiconductor business, expects to roll out electronic chips and displays from Indian manufacturing plants by 2025, the official of the group's semiconductor arm said on Friday. "Semiconductor is a long-term business. We are looking at about $10 billion on display.

SC panel monitoring Pegasus matter; report awaited: Govt source

SC panel monitoring Pegasus matter; report awaited: Govt source

Rediff.com   29 Jan 2022

A government source on Saturday said that the matter related to Pegasus software is being monitored by a committee under the Supreme Court and its report is awaited.

Will India succeed to ring in 5G in 2022?

Will India succeed to ring in 5G in 2022?

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2021

A rare bonhomie among three private telecom companies in raising tariffs coming on the back of a bailout package by the government may have helped the telecom sector avert a crisis but the challenges haven't ceased to exist as the industry faces a cash-guzzling task of rolling out 5G networks in the coming months. The sector that provides direct and indirect employment to millions is projected to see Rs 1.3 lakh crore to Rs 2.3 lakh crore of investments in the coming years in creating robust infrastructure and building telecom and network products that have been incentivised by the government through PLI and other initiatives. After years of cut-throat competition and the apex court ruling on payment of past statutory dues left some players in the lurch, billionaire Sunil Mittal's Bharti Airtel and struggling Vodafone Idea almost in tandem raised tariffs, taking the plunge they had long been talking about.