S Dinakar, Business Standard

Stories by S Dinakar, Business Standard

India Suffers While China, EU Buy Russian Oil

India Suffers While China, EU Buy Russian Oil

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2026

India has gained the least since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and was penalised the most, while the US, China and the European Union emerged as the biggest beneficiaries from the war.

Northern Borders 'Stable Yet Sensitive': Defence Ministry

Northern Borders 'Stable Yet Sensitive': Defence Ministry

Rediff.com   3 Jan 2026

The deployment of the army in all sectors along the Line of Actual Control, the de facto border between India and China, is 'robust, well poised and prepared to deal with any emerging contingency'.

3.84 Trillion Spent On These Weapons...

3.84 Trillion Spent On These Weapons...

Rediff.com   2 Jan 2026

The largest tranche came in July, in the wake of Operation Sindoor, with the DAC according acceptance of necessity -- or initial approval -- for 10 capital acquisition proposals amounting to approximately 1.05 trillion through indigenous sourcing.

Is India Still Buying Russian Oil?

Is India Still Buying Russian Oil?

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2025

Indian private sector and State-run refiners continued to receive crude oil from Russian suppliers even after November 21 -- the winding-down date for US sanctions on supplies from leading Russian oil producers imposed in October -- as new intermediaries sprung up in West Asia to sell the oil, according to senior refining sources and ship tracking data.

SIM-Binding Standoff: Telcos Vs Apps

SIM-Binding Standoff: Telcos Vs Apps

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2025

App-based communication services providers and Indian telcos are at loggerheads over the SIM-binding directions issued by the department of telecom, which are to be complied with by the end of February 2026.

Trai Launches Digital Consent Pilot

Trai Launches Digital Consent Pilot

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2025

A national rollout will take place after the pilot test in which SBI, PNB, Axis Bank, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, IndusInd Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and Punjab & Sind Bank are participating.

Sebi Eases IPO Lock-In Rules

Sebi Eases IPO Lock-In Rules

Rediff.com   14 Nov 2025

Sebi has proposed allowing depositories to mark such pledged shares as 'non-transferable' for the duration of the lock-in period, based on instructions from the issuer.

'Don't Consider Gold, Silver As Asset Classes'

'Don't Consider Gold, Silver As Asset Classes'

Rediff.com   11 Nov 2025

'An asset must generate income. Equities yield dividends, bonds pay coupons, deposits give interest, and real estate earns rent.' 'Gold, silver, and even Bitcoin produce no income, they merely store value. So, they should not be compared to productive assets.'

Oil companies breathe easy as Saudi cuts LPG price

Oil companies breathe easy as Saudi cuts LPG price

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2025

Saudi Arabia's steep cut in LPG benchmark prices has pushed India's household LPG underrecoveries to their lowest level in over two years, slashing oil companies' losses from Rs 200-250 per cylinder last year to about Rs 20-40 now.

Have Climate Summits Lost The Mojo?

Have Climate Summits Lost The Mojo?

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2025

How the UN's flagship climate summit lost its direction and what's at stake.

US Sanctions May Not Stop Russian Oil Flow To India

US Sanctions May Not Stop Russian Oil Flow To India

Rediff.com   4 Nov 2025

Sanctioning Russian oil would have led to a sharp surge in oil prices to above $80 per barrel levels, which would impact pump prices in the US ahead of midterm elections next year.

'Banks Need To Reinvent Themselves'

'Banks Need To Reinvent Themselves'

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2025

'Reinvention is not a hugely difficult task. With technology as available today, you can reinvent yourself pretty quickly.'

UPI Goes Global, Fintech Hits A Wall

UPI Goes Global, Fintech Hits A Wall

Rediff.com   1 Nov 2025

'When you think of cross-border payments, the first things that come to mind are risk, compliance, taxation, speed, and cost.'

Return of coal threatens India's emission commitments

Return of coal threatens India's emission commitments

Rediff.com   29 Oct 2025

India's new climate pledge to the UN could be weakened by its growing use of coal, even as the country plans a 2035 roadmap to cut emissions and boost clean energy.

JLR Cyberattack Triggers $2.55 Billion Shockwave

JLR Cyberattack Triggers $2.55 Billion Shockwave

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2025

At an estimated 1.9 billion in losses and over 5,000 UK organisations affected, the Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack has been labelled the most economically damaging cyber incident in UK history, exposing the deep vulnerability of interconnected supply chains.

Pilot Training In India Is Below The Mark

Pilot Training In India Is Below The Mark

Rediff.com   14 Oct 2025

The principal problem lies in lack of training infrastructure and relatively lax safety standards.

India's energy sector battles taxes, global turmoil

India's energy sector battles taxes, global turmoil

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2025

India's brittle energy security is inextricably linked to two opposing paradigms - fossil fuels, and the transition to green energy. The first powers the present; the second paves the way for Viksit Bharat in 2047.

Gold, Silver Shine As Stocks Slip

Gold, Silver Shine As Stocks Slip

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2025

'The frenzy for gold is primarily due to the uncertainty surrounding the tariff war.'

Power sector CO2 emissions fall for second time in 50 Years

Power sector CO2 emissions fall for second time in 50 Years

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2025

India's power sector CO2 emissions fell in H1 2025 for the first time in nearly 50 years (outside the pandemic), thanks to record renewable growth and lower coal use from cooler, wetter weather.

India's Oil Reforms Aim To Counter US, EU Pressure

India's Oil Reforms Aim To Counter US, EU Pressure

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2025

The government has no say in where the country's refiners source oil from because these are commercial transactions.