Ruchika Chitravanshi &Amp; Shally Seth Mohile

Stories by Ruchika Chitravanshi &Amp; Shally Seth Mohile

Omicron Cancels Christmas, New Year Parties

Omicron Cancels Christmas, New Year Parties

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2021

'We are not organising any large celebrations on New Year's Eve to avoid last-minute changes in guidelines.'

4 out of every 10 Maruti cars sold in villages

4 out of every 10 Maruti cars sold in villages

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2021

'Bharat has been leading, but it cannot carry India as the bulk of the sales come from India in terms of volume and profitability.'

Wanted: Skilled, blue-collar job seekers at electric two-wheeler firms

Wanted: Skilled, blue-collar job seekers at electric two-wheeler firms

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2021

For every one experienced candidate being recruited by e-two wheeler companies, 10 have no prior experience; recruitments are for skilled, low-end jobs, not for managerial or supervisory roles.

Is A Vaccine Booster Needed?

Is A Vaccine Booster Needed?

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2021

'There is no emergency of a third wave that we are rushing for booster doses.'

Omicron: Europe-like surge may mean 1.4 mn cases a day

Omicron: Europe-like surge may mean 1.4 mn cases a day

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2021

'We have to ensure the European situation does not occur in India and we don't see a spread like theirs.'

Health expenditure's share in GDP down

Health expenditure's share in GDP down

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2021

The share of total health expenditure as part of the gross domestic product (GDP) went down to 3.3 per cent in 2017-18 from 3.8 per cent in the previous two years, according to the national health account data released on Monday by the health ministry. The share of government expenditure as part of total expenditure as well as GDP has gone up from from 3.78 per cent to 5.12 per cent between 2013-14 and 2017-18, which could also explain a decline seen in out of pocket expenditure in 2017-18. Health ministry also emphasised the increase in the government health expenditure as part of the total GDP from 1.15 per cent in 2013-14 to 1.35 per cent in 2017-18.

Omicron: 'Vaccine immunity may be less effective'

Omicron: 'Vaccine immunity may be less effective'

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2021

'Antiviral treatment will have no change. Spike protein change may affect the immunity protection.'

10 mn unused Covid vaccine doses lying with private hospitals

10 mn unused Covid vaccine doses lying with private hospitals

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2021

With around 2 million Covid vaccine doses likely to get wasted in December, leading hospital chains have now started to give it gratis to citizens. Sohini Das and Ruchika Chitravanshi report.

Govt targets 'left-out' people in fresh Covid-19 vaccination push

Govt targets 'left-out' people in fresh Covid-19 vaccination push

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2021

The Union health ministry has directed states to identify all left-out people and ensure everyone gets their Covid jab through initiatives such as workplace vaccination, as part of the government's "Har Ghar Dastak" campaign. Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a review meeting on vaccination progress with Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Puducherry on Monday. In a tweet, the minister said, "Spoke about augmenting Govt's #HarGharDastak vaccine campaign. Requested help from religious leaders, NGOs & political groups to speed-up vaccination coverage." Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan has asked state officials that workplace vaccination should be organised for targeting people due for their doses.

Tata Motors knocks out peers in SUV ring

Tata Motors knocks out peers in SUV ring

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2021

Tata Motors, India's third largest passenger vehicle maker, took pole position in the competitive sport utility vehicle (SUV) market in October, reveals the data from industry sources. Riding high on the Punch - the sub-compact SUV offering launched on October 18 - the Tata group flagship sold a record 23,381 units in October, higher than 20,022 units sold by archrival Mahindra & Mahindra, 18,538 units sold by Hyundai Motor India, and 15,931 units sold by Kia Motors India. Utility vehicles - that include SUVs and multipurpose vehicles - accounted for almost one in every two passenger vehicles sold in India in the first seven months of the current financial year, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

Pre-owned car sellers see brisk volume growth as chip crunch persists

Pre-owned car sellers see brisk volume growth as chip crunch persists

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2021

Even as the semiconductor shortage has limited the demand for new cars, the pre-owned car segment is seeing a surge. A preference for personal mobility, availability of multiple organised online platforms, including e-commerce channels, aggregators, and classifieds, have been fuelling growth. The growth rate of the pre-owned car market is expected to be 1.5x that of the new car market over the next five years.

Business travel takes off again on a wing and a prayer

Business travel takes off again on a wing and a prayer

Rediff.com   2 Nov 2021

Business executives are finally dusting off their long-unused suitcases to resume travel, thanks to a good vaccination rate, a drop in fresh cases, and an easing of travel restrictions. It comes as a huge relief for the ravaged aviation, travel and hospitality sectors. "We are witnessing a 40 per cent recovery on pre-covid volumes from our business travellers, signalling the return of corporate confidence in air travel," said Indiver Rastogi, president & group head, Global Business Travel, Thomas Cook (India) & SOTC.

We eat OATS for breakfast: Rajiv Bajaj takes a dig at Ola Electric

We eat OATS for breakfast: Rajiv Bajaj takes a dig at Ola Electric

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2021

As a 75-year-old septuagenarian, Bajaj Auto has adapted itself as a nod to competition, regulations, and changing buyer preference. It will continue to do so, said its managing director Rajiv Bajaj at the launch of the all-new Pulsar 250. This was in response to a question on the company's preparedness for disruption by electric two-wheeler start-ups.

Hotels roll out red carpet for year-end vacationers

Hotels roll out red carpet for year-end vacationers

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2021

After a better-than-expected Dussehra weekend, hospitality firms are hopeful of ending the year on a positive note by doing good business over Christmas and the New Year. Typically, year-end bookings kick in two to four weeks before the season begins. Owing to pandemic-related uncertainties, hotels are seeing a significant reduction in the booking window, with travellers waiting till the last minute to make hotel reservations.

Chip woes dent festive mood for auto firms

Chip woes dent festive mood for auto firms

Rediff.com   25 Oct 2021

The first leg of the 35-day festive period, which ended with Dussehra, failed to bring any cheer for auto companies. While makers of passenger vehicles struggled to meet demand due to the persistent shortage of semiconductors, a recovery in demand remained elusive for two-wheeler manufacturers despite offers and schemes. The overall season, which ends two days after Diwali, is unlikely to bring any turnaround in either the supply or the demand scenario, said dealers and officials at auto companies.

Focus on second dose as India inches closer to 1 billion jabs

Focus on second dose as India inches closer to 1 billion jabs

Rediff.com   18 Oct 2021

Experts, however, feel that given the intensity of the second wave and the high single dose coverage, India is in a good position to avoid any drastic wave in the near future.

India's digital health mission likely to face privacy issues

India's digital health mission likely to face privacy issues

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2021

Lack of clarity on data-sharing persists, public health experts sceptic about the pilot that was run in six Union territories as benchmark for national roll-out

'Vaccine hesitancy has more or less gone'

'Vaccine hesitancy has more or less gone'

Rediff.com   11 Oct 2021

'Demand is wonderful. We have crossed 10 million on many days.' 'The Swedish trade commissioner recently said, "You guys are vaccinating the entire Sweden in one day".'

Carmakers stare at nearly 500,000 units of booking backlog

Carmakers stare at nearly 500,000 units of booking backlog

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2021

Ahead of the peak festive season, India's passenger vehicle makers are staring at a cumulative order backlog of nearly 500,000 units as chip shortage continues to cripple production. The crisis is forcing companies to change their production plans frequently and take a call on the variants they can manufacture based on the availability of semiconductors. The booking numbers are not a true reflection of demand, said manufacturers.

ITC Hotel to launch boutique luxury property, its 6th

ITC Hotel to launch boutique luxury property, its 6th

Rediff.com   2 Oct 2021

Mementos, the new brand, would be aimed at addressing the need for boutique luxury hotels across various destinations.