Ruchika Chitravanshi &Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee

Stories by Ruchika Chitravanshi &Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee

COVID-19 Cases: No Reason For Alarm

COVID-19 Cases: No Reason For Alarm

Rediff.com   16 Mar 2023

'The fortunate part is that the severity is less. New strains are continuously forming and the virus is getting less severe.'

Mega Push For Modi's Jal Jeevan Mission

Mega Push For Modi's Jal Jeevan Mission

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2023

'The first two years of the Jal Jeevan Mission were wasted in UP.' 'But after a push from the Centre, work has picked up pace in the state.'

Farm sector to grow 3.7% in Oct-Dec on kharif output

Farm sector to grow 3.7% in Oct-Dec on kharif output

Rediff.com   3 Mar 2023

The Gross Value Added (GVA) in agriculture and allied activities is projected to clock its best growth in FY23 during the October-to-December quarter, at 3.7 per cent, on the back of a strong kharif harvest, according to the second advance estimates of national income. In the third quarter of FY22, GVA in the sector was 2.3 per cent at constant prices. At current prices, the growth in the third quarter of this financial year is projected at 8.6 per cent, which is almost at the same level in the corresponding quarter of FY22.

Farm to fork: Going in favour of the grain

Farm to fork: Going in favour of the grain

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2023

In the coming few weeks, agriculture markets in North and Central India will be full of wheat, mustard, and chana - the three main rabi crops grown in these parts. Not only will the price trajectory of these determine the course of food inflation in the months to come, but it could also have a wider impact on the rural economy in the main growing states for these crops. Wheat and chana are largely grown in Madhya Pradesh (MP).

India limits wheat exports through the govt route as prices rise

India limits wheat exports through the govt route as prices rise

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2023

India has put curbs on wheat exports through the government route, starting November last year. This comes amid a surge in domestic prices of the cereal. In December, India exported 391 tonnes of wheat to Bangladesh and Bhutan. In November 2022, it had exported 375 tonnes of wheat only to Bhutan.

March heat to shape up wheat output this year in North India: Experts

March heat to shape up wheat output this year in North India: Experts

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2023

Temperatures in March will be critical to determining the impact of any unusual heatwave conditions on this year's wheat crop in North India. It is that time of the year when the crop enters its vital grain-filling stage, say meteorologists and crop experts. So far, the high day temperatures in the North are not believed to have any significant impact on the final yields since the crop hasn't entered a stage where heat affects yields.

Government Cracks Down On FCI Racket

Government Cracks Down On FCI Racket

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2023

'The corruption charges in FCI are not the first and won't be the last.'

As El Nino returns with hotter summer, India braces for impact on monsoon

As El Nino returns with hotter summer, India braces for impact on monsoon

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2023

Several global models are predicting El Nio to appear around the second half of the year, which are the crucial rain-bearing months.

New competition law likely to open up settlement route for cartels

New competition law likely to open up settlement route for cartels

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2023

In a relief to industry, the government has accepted a parliamentary panel's recommendation on allowing cartels to opt for the settlement scheme under the Competition Amendment Bill, according to official sources. The proposed Bill seeks to introduce a clause for settlement and commitment that offers any enterprise against which an inquiry has been initiated to file an application for settlement. The Parliamentary Committee on Finance had suggested including cartels in the scope for settlement "as a pragmatic recourse to the whole process".

Are Wealthy Indians Paying Less Tax?

Are Wealthy Indians Paying Less Tax?

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2023

While movie stars like Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan are among the top I-T payers, very few of the wealthiest Indians figure on the list.

Budget 2023: PMAY-G May Get A Big Push

Budget 2023: PMAY-G May Get A Big Push

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2023

It may plan a significant hike in budgetary support aimed at completing the balance 8.4 million dwellings by March 2024.

Doctors want govt to allow 4th booster

Doctors want govt to allow 4th booster

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2023

'The protective effect of the vaccine lasts for about nine months to a year.' 'For health workers that period is already over. This is the right time to augment their immunity.'

Indians Not Taking Booster Covid Vaccine

Indians Not Taking Booster Covid Vaccine

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2022

Less than 30,000 booster doses daily in December.

Covid fears in China may have cascading impact on India's exports, imports

Covid fears in China may have cascading impact on India's exports, imports

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2022

The importance of China as India's top trading partner cannot be understated.

Mask Up, Covid Is Not Over Yet

Mask Up, Covid Is Not Over Yet

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2022

'If there are any symptoms/variants of concern, states can prepare accordingly.'

In 'white gold' rush, India starts talks with lithium-rich nations

In 'white gold' rush, India starts talks with lithium-rich nations

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2022

To ramp up domestic battery manufacturing capacity and reduce the dependence on imports, the government has initiated talks with a few lithium-rich countries to supply the mineral to Indian companies, industry sources informed Business Standard. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) held a meeting with the ambassadors of countries, including Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia, among others, to put forth its request.

Centre seeks info from embassy on Iran's bar on rice, tea imports

Centre seeks info from embassy on Iran's bar on rice, tea imports

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2022

The department of commerce has urged the agriculture ministry as well as the diplomatic mission in Tehran to apprise it of details as to why Iranian buyers have stopped import of rice and tea from India, a senior government official said. Exporters said that exports of items such as high quality tea and rice have stopped since last week. As of now, there has been no confirmation from the authorities and the response from the embassy in Tehran is also taking time, they said.

Sunflower oil shipments to India from Russia, Ukraine return to normal

Sunflower oil shipments to India from Russia, Ukraine return to normal

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2022

Shipments of sunflower oil to India have started normalising after imports from war-torn Ukraine resumed beginning September after a gap of four months, leading to further normalisation of supplies. Ukraine has been the largest supplier of sunflower oil to India. However, after the Russia-Ukraine war broke out in February, supplies from Ukraine dwindled as Russia denied it access to the Black Sea ports.

IMD forecasts warm winter, crop yields likely to feel the heat this year

IMD forecasts warm winter, crop yields likely to feel the heat this year

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2022

Brace for some warmth this winter as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its December-February forecast on Thursday said that the minimum and maximum temperatures could remain 'normal' to 'above normal' over most parts of Northwest and Northeast India. Both the minimum and maximum will remain below normal in Southern Peninsular and Central India in these winter months. While this could give some respite from the intense cold of North India, it could have a negative impact on the standing rabi crops if the temperature rise is unusual and abnormal.

Guidelines to improve quality control at audit firms in place

Guidelines to improve quality control at audit firms in place

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2022

The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) has issued guidelines to inspect select audit firms to identify areas and opportunities for improvement in the audit firm's system of quality control, a statement said. "Inspections will consist firm-wide review of audit quality and individual file reviews on test-check basis to evaluate the level of compliance with applicable auditing standards and quality control policy and processes," NFRA said. The selection of the audit firm or the auditor for such inspection by NFRA would be based on assessment of risks in the audit environment.