Raghuvir Badrinath In Chennai, Bangalore

Stories by Raghuvir Badrinath In Chennai, Bangalore

Bangalore may lead realty revival

Bangalore may lead realty revival

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2009

Bangalore has emerged as a clear preference for sectors like office and retail, while coming a close third in the residential and hospitality according to Cushman & Wakefield, a retail estate research firm.

IIT faculty turn to 'Gandhigiri' for pay hike

IIT faculty turn to 'Gandhigiri' for pay hike

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2009

Following a "raw" deal by the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), which issued a notification on September 16 that deprived them of an immediate pay rise and ignored other demands for enhanced allowances, faculty of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) have decided to express its dissatisfication with the Centre in a novel way.

HAL has a solution to IAF's pilot training crisis

HAL has a solution to IAF's pilot training crisis

Rediff.com   1 Sep 2009

The long-delayed Hawk trainers, which began arriving in India in 2007, have improved advanced training for IAF flyers. But the crucial introduction to flying, conducted in antiquated HPT-32 Deepak and HJT-16 Kiran aircraft, is taking a growing toll on pilots' lives.

Pvt security agencies outside CISF's line of fire

Pvt security agencies outside CISF's line of fire

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2009

CISF has been permitted to also protect private sector companies after the government made an amendment in the CISF Act in January this year, in the aftermath of the 26/11 attack on Mumbai. T V Mohandas Pai, member of the Infosys Board and Head of HR and Administration, said, "CISF will provide us added protection; they will provide an overlay cover."

Narayana Murthy mulls investment in green VC fund

Narayana Murthy mulls investment in green VC fund

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2009

N R Narayana Murthy, co-founder and chief mentor of India's second-largest IT services provider Infosys Technologies, is planning to invest in US-based clean technology venture capital fund Siderian Ventures.

Danone got Rs 380-cr gain in Britannia divestment

Danone got Rs 380-cr gain in Britannia divestment

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2009

Groupe Danone, the global dairy products major based in France, netted a capital gain of Rs 380 crore ( $56 million) when it recently divested its indirect 25.5 per cent holding in the Bangalore-based biscuit major Britannia Industries.

Wipro's consumer care biz logs hefty growth

Wipro's consumer care biz logs hefty growth

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2009

The first quarter of the financial year 2009-10 was exceptional for Wipro's consumer care business. Santoor, its flagship soap brand, which contributed close to Rs 850 crore in 2008-09 to the company's coffers, became the number one brand in South India in its category.

File tax returns at the click of a mouse

File tax returns at the click of a mouse

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2009

Lamingo Systems, a Bangalore based technology start-up firm promoted by two entrepreneurs - Navin Kumar and his wife Monika Rungta - has launched eLagaan.com in this current tax filing season, a portal which promises to prepare the tax returns easy to be filed both electronically and in paper mode.

Landholders delay Mangalore SEZ

Landholders delay Mangalore SEZ

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2009

The Mangalore Special Economic Zone Limited (MSEZL) is facing stiff opposition from the landholders who are resisting acquisition of their lands.

Britannia set to re-enter milk business

Britannia set to re-enter milk business

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2009

The company, which closed last fiscal with a top line of close to Rs 3,500 crore (Rs 35 billion), is expected to play in the ready-to-drink flavoured milk market targeted at youth, instead of the mass packaged milk segment. Britannia declined to comment in this regard. Industry estimates indicate this market is valued at close to Rs 750 crore (Rs 7.5 billion).

Wal-Mart opens new front for battle-hardened Metro

Wal-Mart opens new front for battle-hardened Metro

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2009

"The entry of other players in this segment will help in reiterating the benefits of the cash-and-carry concept to Indian customers," Metro India Managing Director Martin Dlouhy says. It may be the first time anywhere in the world that Wal-Mart and Metro square off in the cash & carry format. Dlouhy's apparent nonchalance can't hide the fact that Metro may be facing one of its most difficult challenges in the country.

Call to make Web more accessible

Call to make Web more accessible

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2009

The Web is becoming an increasingly important resource to many aspects of life like education, employment, government, commerce, health care and recreation. It is used for receiving and providing information and interacting with society. Hence, it is essential that it be accessible in order to provide equal access and equal opportunity to people with disabilities. An accessible Web also benefits others, including people with changing abilities due to aging.

Kingfisher Airlines may roll over Rs 800-cr debt

Kingfisher Airlines may roll over Rs 800-cr debt

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2009

Kingfisher Airlines is looking to roll over close to Rs 800 crore of its short-term debt, even as it finalises the paperwork to borrow another Rs 1,500 crore from a few Indian public sector banks.

Infy sees demand for its new models

Infy sees demand for its new models

Rediff.com   29 May 2009

Infosys has officially announced offering its clients new engagement models including outcome based pricing and transaction based pricing. According to a senior company executive, the clients accepting these models as they ask for 'no immediate pay-out of cash' and 'pay money per transaction basis.' These models can also be helpful for the clients to deal with the demand fluctuations and effectively manage their budgets.

Microsoft lays off 1% of India staff

Microsoft lays off 1% of India staff

Rediff.com   11 May 2009

It is not clear which groups of the Indian operations have been affected by the cuts which are learnt to have been carried out across diverse functions. However, a company source said that a sizeable number of Microsoft's sales and support personnel in Hyderabad and a few in Bangalore were among those affected. The Response Windows team has also been dismantled completely, the source claimed.

Wipro sees recovery in H2 of FY10

Wipro sees recovery in H2 of FY10

Rediff.com   8 May 2009

India's third largest software company Wipro on Thursday said they are hopeful of some signs of recovery in the second half for the IT outsourcing services sector.

IT exports to grow in single digits in FY'10

IT exports to grow in single digits in FY'10

Rediff.com   7 May 2009

"Till the second quarter of last fiscal, the industry was on track to achieve the $50 billion export target by 2008-09. The aspiration to reach $60 billion by fiscal 2010 is at risk since an unprecedented slowdown is expected in key markets overseas, especially the US and Europe, which account for about 80 percent of Indian software exports," Nasscom president Som Mittal said. Nasscom has now extended the target year for achieving $60 billion export revenue to 2011.

Will Obama's new tax proposal affect India?

Will Obama's new tax proposal affect India?

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

Most large American companies earn more than 50 per cent of their revenue from markets outside the US and will be affected by the proposed tax reforms. Business groups in the US had assailed the proposal, arguing it would subject them to far higher taxes than their foreign competitors must pay and ultimately endanger US jobs. Global companies that earn profits in India are subject to a tax rate of 33.9 per cent and the impact of the proposed reforms on them would be marginal.

Corporation Bank reduces lending rates

Corporation Bank reduces lending rates

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

For housing loans up to Rs 30 lakh, the floating interest rates for various tenures range from 8.75 per cent to 10.25 per cent. For Rs 30 lakh to Rs 50 lakh, the floating interest rates range from 9.50 per cent to 10.75 per cent and for Rs 50 lakh and above, the floating rates range from 10 per cent to 11 per cent. The revised fixed interest rates are 11 per cent and 11.50 per cent depending upon the loan amount.

Forex losses dent  Biocon, Jubilant net

Forex losses dent Biocon, Jubilant net

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2009

Year 2008 results of India's largest drug maker, Ranbaxy Laboratories, and Wockhardt were also impacted by forex losses. Companies such as Aurobindo and Orchid are also expected to post forex losses, say analysts.