Ruchika Chitravanshi And Shine Jacob

Stories by Ruchika Chitravanshi And Shine Jacob

Covid-19: Testing times for plasma banks

Covid-19: Testing times for plasma banks

Rediff.com   30 Jul 2020

While the process of extracting plasma itself is simple, doctors say that it is the screening of donors, testing and filling up of numerous forms that takes time.

Diesel at doorstep? Possible if OMCs' plan succeeds

Diesel at doorstep? Possible if OMCs' plan succeeds

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2020

Oil marketing companies IOC, BPCL and HPCL have invited expressions of interest from start-ups that wish to be enrolled as fuel entrepreneurs for doorstep delivery of high-speed diesel through mobile petrol pumps.

Are signs of economic green shoots really visible?

Are signs of economic green shoots really visible?

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2020

Mumbai traffic, mobile internet speeds, and grocery and pharmacy visits are all showing lower numbers for the latest week.

Swachh Bharat man, Param Iyer calls it a day as sanitation secy

Swachh Bharat man, Param Iyer calls it a day as sanitation secy

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2020

Iyer, popularly called Param, is keen to return to the US where he had spent several years working with the World Bank at its Washington office -- a job he later quit to become road manager for his daughter, a professional tennis player.

COVID-19: Lessons to be learnt from Delhi, Mumbai

COVID-19: Lessons to be learnt from Delhi, Mumbai

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2020

The two cities finally got their act together by ramping up the testing capacity and implementing stricter quarantine norms.

India may see wave of peaks in COVID-19 cases

India may see wave of peaks in COVID-19 cases

Rediff.com   20 Jul 2020

Many experts feel the concept of a national peak is nebulous, given that the growth in case numbers is dominated by a handful of states.

Drop in health expenditure amid pandemic surprises experts

Drop in health expenditure amid pandemic surprises experts

Rediff.com   18 Jul 2020

The ministry of health and family welfare spent Rs 3,948 crore in May this year compared to Rs 7,816 crore in the corresponding month of the previous year. On the other hand, at Rs 12,930 crore, the expenditure had risen almost 200 per cent in April against Rs 4,327 crore in the corresponding month of 2019-20.

Why did Iran eject India from port, oil field deals?

Why did Iran eject India from port, oil field deals?

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2020

Iran's growing proximity to China may have also played a part.

Will private railway services be a reality by 2023?

Will private railway services be a reality by 2023?

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2020

Under the plan, there will be 151 private trains covering 109 routes which may entail investments worth Rs 30,000 crore.

Will bullet train start running from 2023?

Will bullet train start running from 2023?

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2020

Apart from land acquisition, another major cause for concern before the project is cost escalation owing to a fall in the rupee against the Japanese yen.

How fuel prices have risen under Modi regime

How fuel prices have risen under Modi regime

Rediff.com   13 Jul 2020

Despite a massive decline in crude oil prices since 2012 -- Modi has been prime minister in six of these eight years -- petrol in Delhi has become 10 per cent costlier and diesel 97 per cent, as of July 2.

Free LPG reaches only 50% beneficiaries, shows govt data

Free LPG reaches only 50% beneficiaries, shows govt data

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2020

Given that the target was to reach 80.34 million families under PMUY - within three months starting April 1 - the government should have distributed at least 241.02 million cylinders by the end of June. It actually ended up distributing only 119.7 million cylinders.

IOC beats lockdown blues, resumes works on projects

IOC beats lockdown blues, resumes works on projects

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2020

These mega projects, worth about Rs 1 trillion, would boost the economy, ensure smooth supply of petroleum products across the nation and also provide the much-needed relief to people looking to get back to work after the lockdown.

Where's the Covid-19 data, ask scientists

Where's the Covid-19 data, ask scientists

Rediff.com   6 Jul 2020

Epidemiologists worry there's little or no data being shared on mortality by age group and contacts traced, which makes it difficult to understand how the effects of Covid-19 might be different in the Indian population, reports Ruchika Chitravanshi

IOC launches winter-grade diesel for troops in Ladakh

IOC launches winter-grade diesel for troops in Ladakh

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2020

Looking into the current situation on the China boarder, IOC has stocked up enough winter-grade fuel for the region. With army movements increasing, the demand for this fuel is expected to increase multifold from the 350 metric tonnes last winter.

Pinarayi Vijayan: The CM as crisis manager

Pinarayi Vijayan: The CM as crisis manager

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2020

The Kerala chief minister's four years in office may well be remembered for the way he handled Cyclone Ockhi, two floods, Nipah, and now COVID-19, reports Shine Jacob.

ONGC halts operations at two rigs as 54 employees test COVID positive

ONGC halts operations at two rigs as 54 employees test COVID positive

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2020

A company official said work stopped temporarily only at two rigs and the remaining 34 in the offshore were operational. He added there was no impact on the company's production.

COVID-19: Govt panel recommends capping private hospitals' rates

COVID-19: Govt panel recommends capping private hospitals' rates

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2020

The committee has recommended Rs 8,000-10,000, Rs 13,000-15,000, and Rs 15,000-18,000 including PPE costs for isolation beds, and ICUs with or without ventilator, respectively, to all hospitals. Currently, hospitals are charging Rs 24,000-25,000, Rs 34,000-43,000 & Rs 44,000-54,000 (excluding PPE cost).

Ladakh stand-off: Railways cancels Chinese contract

Ladakh stand-off: Railways cancels Chinese contract

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2020

Govt has already approached World Bank seeking termination of contract. The progress of the project was just 20 per cent though the contract was awarded in 2016.

Health expenditure in April trebles to Rs 13,000 crore

Health expenditure in April trebles to Rs 13,000 crore

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2020

Experts say a large part of the expenditure in April was spent on heads such as creating infrastructure for testing capacity and procuring testing kits, among other things.