S Dinakar, Business Standard

Stories by S Dinakar, Business Standard

Covid cases are being detected by accident

Covid cases are being detected by accident

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2022

'A patient visits for any other treatment, but a routine Covid test finds him to be positive.' 'Not only are they, but their whole family is also coming out to be positive.'

India's fuel pricing mechanism is opaque and removed from reality

India's fuel pricing mechanism is opaque and removed from reality

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2022

What could be more uncertain than Virat Kohli's agonising wait for a century for over two years? Perhaps it's what you will pay tomorrow morning to fill your vehicle's tank. Pump prices have joined cricket scores as the country's favourite discussion topic. Steep increases invite widespread protests, while moderate additions make the government anti-reformist. The ongoing fuel price conundrum is no different.

Why Ukraine conflict may see a slowdown in Indian fuel imports

Why Ukraine conflict may see a slowdown in Indian fuel imports

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2022

India's appetite for imported crude oil may wane in fiscal year (FY) 2023 from record levels in pre-pandemic 2019-20 fiscal as higher oil prices, a spillover from the conflict in Ukraine, and increasing use of biofuels affect domestic demand for petroleum products. Brent crude surged to a nine-year high, shy of a July 2008 record $147.50 a barrel, before declining to around $100 a barrel - but the volatility in commodity rates will slow global economic growth and use of fuels. Demand for all oil products may grow at only 2-3 per cent in FY23, slower than the current fiscal and nearly half the 5.5 per cent growth estimated by the petroleum ministry, according to industry officials.

'Paytm's business will continue'

'Paytm's business will continue'

Rediff.com   23 Mar 2022

'We now understand things that we have to correct.'

'Wise to invest in quality large-cap and mid-cap stocks'

'Wise to invest in quality large-cap and mid-cap stocks'

Rediff.com   7 Mar 2022

'Earning expectations remain strong.'

80D Limit Available? Opt For Health Check-up

80D Limit Available? Opt For Health Check-up

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2022

You can avail of tax deduction on expenses incurred on preventive health check-ups. This provision is beneficial to younger people who don't exhaust their Section 80D limit with their health insurance premium.

Households must prepare for hefty rise in LPG prices

Households must prepare for hefty rise in LPG prices

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2022

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cut fuel subsidies while slapping additional fuel taxes on unblended transport fuels in the latest Union Budget. The former will hit the rural poor, households that secured a subsidised LPG connection under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), a programme that was partly instrumental in helping the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) win the 2019 general elections. The latter will pretty much hurt the entire population after it kicks in from October. That's what it looks like. Or, perhaps, it's not as it appears to be, at least on the subsidy front.

Why India's oil import bill is likely to go up

Why India's oil import bill is likely to go up

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2022

India must be prepared for a big, fat fuel import bill in FY23 - barring any further avatars of the Covid virus - as refiners crank up runs, or crude processing rates, to meet the growing demand for fuels, and crude prices soar. Capacity additions by an Indian state-run refiner will reinforce the need for foreign crude. Demand for all fuels is expected to increase by 3-8 per cent next fiscal from 2021-22, reaching pre-pandemic levels, according to analysts and industry experts.

BPCL privatisation: How long will govt wait for the right suitor?

BPCL privatisation: How long will govt wait for the right suitor?

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2022

In 2017, a consortium led by Russian state oil company Rosneft agreed to buy Essar Oil for $12.9 billion in India's biggest foreign acquisition of a homegrown company. Rosneft's buyout of Essar's assets was meant to herald a wave of energy investments in India - over six decades after Esso, Caltex and Shell invested in India's refining sector in the 1950s. But the government has tripped up in its efforts to sell Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), formerly Burmah Shell, a blue chip public sector company. Bidders include a couple of global funds and resources firm Vedanta.

Covaxin safe for children: Bharat Biotech

Covaxin safe for children: Bharat Biotech

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2021

Bharat Biotech is targeting to manufacture one billion doses of its intra-nasal vaccine in 2022 which is under clinical trials now.

'Antibodies induced by Covishield and Covaxin gradually increase and decrease'

'Antibodies induced by Covishield and Covaxin gradually increase and decrease'

Rediff.com   28 Dec 2021

'Antibodies remain in the blood for at least seven to nine months.'

Surging prices threaten to spoil India's coming-of-age gas party

Surging prices threaten to spoil India's coming-of-age gas party

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2021

Around 15 years ago, when Reliance Industries (RIL) struck natural gas in the Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin off the east coast, the government made plans to supply that fuel cheaply to scores of generators that sprang up in India triggered by the discovery. Most of the plants, which account for 6 per cent of India's total generation capacity, operate sparsely after the KG-D6 area first failed to meet production targets, and then finally shut shop. Affordable domestic gas was why those thermal plants came up and the rate of the fuel today is why those generators hardly operate. Record liquefied natural gas (LNG) rates may yet again unravel India's ambitions to expand use of gas in industries, households and vehicles. Rates, while volatile, may stay strong this decade as developed nations with higher purchasing power embrace gas as the transition fuel.

Why did Paytm stock drop by 8%?

Why did Paytm stock drop by 8%?

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2021

After dropping to a low of Rs 1,298 apiece, the stock finished at Rs 1,380, its lowest level since November 22, the second day of listing.

Why does India fail to attract foreign investments in oil & gas?

Why does India fail to attract foreign investments in oil & gas?

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2021

Why does the world's fastest-growing major consumer of energy fail to attract investments in oil and gas? This is a question worth pondering after private sector conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) failed to close a $15-billion downstream asset deal with Saudi Arabia's national oil company, Aramco. It's understandable if multi-billion dollar investments in oil and gas projects or deals involving state companies that need to traverse a complex bureaucracy at state and federal levels and the corridors of ministries unravel. However, Mukesh Ambani-run RIL, India's most successful energy company, is not typically known to fumble on closing deals (Ambani closed deals worth around Rs 2 trillion early last year in telecom and retail with blue chip investors).

April saw record decadal high of 161 deals amounting to $13 billion

April saw record decadal high of 161 deals amounting to $13 billion

Rediff.com   24 May 2021

Domestic mergers and acquisitions transactions led the pack with 32 deals amounting to $5 billion.

How these changes will impact your savings and salaries in FY22

How these changes will impact your savings and salaries in FY22

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2021

From taxation of EPF contributions to new wage code, life won't be the same in FY22.

Here's how the Budget affects some key sectors

Here's how the Budget affects some key sectors

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2021

From real estate to metals, what Sitharaman's Budget has in store.

Budget 2021: 'Road map for sustainable growth'

Budget 2021: 'Road map for sustainable growth'

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2021

The Budget kept away from mood dampeners such as an increase in taxes (capital gain taxes) and even the much-feared introduction of Covid cess and wealth taxes, says Nimesh Kampani, chairman, JM Financial.

Budget in 2 minutes: 'Bad bank' gets nod, discoms to get funds & more

Budget in 2 minutes: 'Bad bank' gets nod, discoms to get funds & more

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2021

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her third Budget on February 1.

Will Amit Shah replace Rajnath Singh as defence minister?

Will Amit Shah replace Rajnath Singh as defence minister?

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2020

Many changes are likely in the BJP and government in coming weeks.