Ruchika Chitravanshi, Nivedita Mookerji

Stories by Ruchika Chitravanshi, Nivedita Mookerji

Getting future-ready: Govt may tweak IBC to factor in climate change

Getting future-ready: Govt may tweak IBC to factor in climate change

Rediff.com   7 May 2024

The government is contemplating changes to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to deal with environmental claims and liabilities of defaulting companies to make the law future-ready and meet climate action goals, sources told Business Standard. Currently, the IBC has various categories of claims and creditors, including those related to environmental liabilities.

BJP, Congress Pull Up Sleeves In Gujarat

BJP, Congress Pull Up Sleeves In Gujarat

Rediff.com   7 May 2024

After BJP candidate Mukesh Dalal's Surat win, Gujarat will see 25 Lok Sabha seats go to polls on May 7 with 266 candidates in the fray.

Above-normal monsoon likely to ease food prices: FinMin

Above-normal monsoon likely to ease food prices: FinMin

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2024

With the prediction of an above normal monsoon in 2024, the government is expecting food prices to come down, the finance ministry's monthly economic report for March has said. The report, released on Thursday, said robust foreign inflows and comfortable trade deficits were expected to keep the rupee within a comfortable range. "Further easing of food prices is on the anvil as IMD (India Meteorological Department) has predicted above-normal rainfall during the monsoon season, which is likely to lead to higher production, assuming good spatial and temporal distribution of the rainfall," the monthly report, released by the Department of Economic Affairs, said.

Investors In India Needs Red Carpet, Not Red Tape

Investors In India Needs Red Carpet, Not Red Tape

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2024

'India needs many more job creators, both in manufacturing and services, to make it big.' 'For that, the red carpet must be rolled out fully and for all investors without holding back,' suggests Nivedita Mookerji.

Centre in a huddle to understand impact of the Iran-Israel tensions

Centre in a huddle to understand impact of the Iran-Israel tensions

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2024

Top government officials in New Delhi have started discussions with stakeholders ranging from shipping and container companies to export promotion councils to understand the impact of the Iran-Israel tensions and plan ahead. Inter-ministerial talks are also being lined up amid the crisis situation in West Asia, sources confirmed. While the crude flows are not directly under any threat, elevated oil prices remain a concern, according to officials.

Centre Plans To Raise Rs 7.5 Trillion...

Centre Plans To Raise Rs 7.5 Trillion...

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2024

...to fund the revenue gap. Of the gross market borrowing of Rs 14.13 trillion estimated for FY25, Rs 7.5 trillion, or 53 per cent, is planned to be borrowed in the first half.

Summer sowing may ease inflation: FinMin

Summer sowing may ease inflation: FinMin

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2024

The finance ministry expects a broad-based moderation in inflationary pressures on the back of an anticipated reduction in food prices as a result of the uptick in summer sowing. The retail inflation rate remained stubbornly clung to the 5 per cent mark in seven of the past eight months. "Core inflation is trending downwards, indicating a broad-based moderation in price pressures... Driven by strong domestic growth and benign global commodity prices, core inflation is declining continuously.

Work Begins On The Full Budget

Work Begins On The Full Budget

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2024

Thrust on infrastructure and capital expenditure is expected to continue in the Union Budget for FY25.

Time to speak up: What women want from elections

Time to speak up: What women want from elections

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2024

Ahead of the upcoming elections, political parties have started announcing incentives to benefit women, but what do women truly seek for genuine gender parity, asks Nivedita Mookerji.

Uniform KYC Norms On The Cards

Uniform KYC Norms On The Cards

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2024

'The committee has been constituted. Different government departments and FSDC members are part of it.'

Can Voda Idea play on the front foot in a market fast resembling a duopoly?

Can Voda Idea play on the front foot in a market fast resembling a duopoly?

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2024

In August 2021, Nick Read, chief executive of Vodafone Plc at the time, did not mince his words while speaking about the India business in an earnings call. Replying to an analyst's question on Vodafone Idea, a venture with the Aditya Birla Group that had piled on huge debts and worrisome losses, Read described it as a highly stressed situation that "they (Vodafone Idea) are trying to navigate... "We, as a group, try to provide them as much practical support as we can, but I want to make it very clear, we are not putting any additional equity into India.''

Paytm Crisis: StartUp Founders Take Note

Paytm Crisis: StartUp Founders Take Note

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2024

Startup founders need to sit up and think about how not to take stardom for granted and how not to disappoint their fans who have stood in long queues for those precious selfies with popular entrepreneurs, notes Nivedita Mookerji.

In a huge relief to homebuyers, allotted houses to stay out of liquidation

In a huge relief to homebuyers, allotted houses to stay out of liquidation

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2024

In a relief to homebuyers, assets in a real estate project that have been handed over to the allottee would be kept out of the liquidation process of the company, the latest amendment to the rules by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has said. The notification dated February 12 said: "For the purposes of clause (e) of sub-section (4) of section 36, wherever the corporate debtor has given possession to an allottee in a real estate project, such asset shall not form a part of the liquidation estate of the corporate debtor." Real estate experts call it a "pragmatic approach" by the regulator. "However, there are many cases where possession has not been given because the property is stuck in insolvency.

Digital Competition Bill Wants Interoperability

Digital Competition Bill Wants Interoperability

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2024

It is being suggested that apps, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, should share their APIs with each other to ensure there is interoperability, just as it exists across email services.

'Tax buoyancy can't continue year after year'

'Tax buoyancy can't continue year after year'

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2024

'The revenue projection arises out of all sectors doing well and the formalisation of the economy helps in making sure the tax domain gets widened.'

ED to probe Fema breach in Paytm bank case

ED to probe Fema breach in Paytm bank case

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2024

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has launched a preliminary investigation or a pre-open inquiry into alleged violations related to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema) in the Paytm Payments Bank case, according to sources in the know. The probe follows serious concerns raised by the Reserve Bank of India on multiple violations by the Paytm bank, which is a joint venture between One97 Communications, which is the parent company of Paytm, and the group's founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

'There's a de-emphasis on divestment'

'There's a de-emphasis on divestment'

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2024

'We now look at divestment as an opportunity for maximising the value of public assets, not necessarily as a short-term resource-raising measure.'

Is There Time For A Reset For Paytm?

Is There Time For A Reset For Paytm?

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2024

Going by the RBI directive and the overall narrative, Paytm may have lost the rigour of stress tests, audits and compliance.

IBBI allows same RP for company and personal guarantor insolvency

IBBI allows same RP for company and personal guarantor insolvency

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2024

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has lifted the restriction to allow the same insolvency professional for the resolution process of a company as well as its personal guarantor for a better harmonisation and effective coordination of both processes. The changes made to IBBI - Bankruptcy Process for Personal Guarantors to Corporate Debtors, Regulations, 2019 -- came into effect on January 31. IBBI has also amended the provision regarding the meetings of the Committee of Creditors to make them mandatory in insolvency matters about personal guarantors.

Tax devolution to states seen at 32%, but lags 15th FC advice

Tax devolution to states seen at 32%, but lags 15th FC advice

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2024

The Union government is projected to share about 32 per cent of central taxes with states during the financial year 2024-25 against the 15th Finance Commission's recommendation of 41 per cent. The Revised Estimates (RE) for FY24, too, show a similar share of states in the central taxes at 32 per cent. In absolute terms, however, there has been an increase in the amount devolved to states compared to the Budget Estimates (BE) for FY24 at Rs 11 trillion.