Sai Ishwar &Amp;Amp; Samreen Ahmad

Stories by Sai Ishwar &Amp;Amp; Samreen Ahmad

IT firms go aggressive on cost-cutting amid COVID-19 crisis

IT firms go aggressive on cost-cutting amid COVID-19 crisis

Rediff.com   13 May 2020

Top Indian IT firms, such as TCS, Infosys, and Wipro, have signalled taking aggressive cost take-out measures, including reduction in sub-contracting costs, travel expenses, freeze in salary hikes, and holding back variable payments, among others.

Wait for new home may get longer by 3 months

Wait for new home may get longer by 3 months

Rediff.com   13 May 2020

Developers are cautious about the timing of launches in the near term, given the relative uncertainty in demand pick-up and logistical challenges during the lockdown. However, affordable housing projects slated for the first quarter (Q1) of 2020-21 (FY21) may get launched this quarter itself.

COVID-19 deals a deadly blow to small realty players

COVID-19 deals a deadly blow to small realty players

Rediff.com   6 May 2020

Experts say that the lockdown and its aftermath will further quicken the consolidation in the real estate sector, which has been taking place since 2012, with more small players going out of the business and bigger, branded players dominating the market.

There will be no COVID-related lay-offs at Infosys

There will be no COVID-related lay-offs at Infosys

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2020

However, the company says it will suspended promotions and salary increments this year.

No salary hike for I-T sector workers this year

No salary hike for I-T sector workers this year

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2020

While industry leaders Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro have announced deferring wage-hike plans, other players such as Infosys and HCL Technologies are expected to follow suit, according to industry insiders.

Online pharmacies go on a hiring spree

Online pharmacies go on a hiring spree

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2020

Most firms operating in the space claim that they have seen at least a two-fold rise in orders as compared to other times.

Classes in Cloud: Online teaching in lockdown times

Classes in Cloud: Online teaching in lockdown times

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2020

With the lockdown in force, live online teaching has become the order of the day, report Peerzada Abrar and Sai Ishwar.

Corona effect: Job offers for IIMs, IITians cancelled

Corona effect: Job offers for IIMs, IITians cancelled

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2020

What will happen to the job placement and summer internship plans of India's management and IIT students? Many campuses are stepping in to help students hang on to their placements, in spite of the lockdown.

Gig employees get a helping hand from old economy

Gig employees get a helping hand from old economy

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2020

Over the past week, several unusual partnerships among start-ups, traditional businesses and hospitals have been announced, and several more are likely to materialise soon. The trend could see increased importance of gig workers, who are taking considerable risk to deliver goods to people in the time of a pandemic.

Consumer internet start-ups brace for salary cuts, layoffs

Consumer internet start-ups brace for salary cuts, layoffs

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2020

For now, Bounce, Shuttl, Fab Hotels, Instamojo, Zomato, Curefit, and HealthifyMe, among others, are going for salary deductions. Most of the consumer internet start-ups, besides those who are in the grocery delivery, education tech, and video conferencing business, would ultimately lay-off people and cut back salaries.

How IITs are gearing up to fight COVID-19 menace

How IITs are gearing up to fight COVID-19 menace

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2020

While some researchers are developing prototypes for ventilators to overcome their shortage, others have teamed up to develop testing kits.

What if kirana shops run out of stock?

What if kirana shops run out of stock?

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2020

'90 per cent of the food and grocery business is still with the kiranas.' 'If kiranas are not allowed to operate, it becomes a serious issue.'

E-grocers resume work as states step in

E-grocers resume work as states step in

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2020

However, many of these firms were facing an uphill task of convincing the people on the ground to return to work, as many are apprehensive of their safety.

Coronavirus: 'Govt needs to allow treatment by private hospitals'

Coronavirus: 'Govt needs to allow treatment by private hospitals'

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2020

'We are going to be overwhelmed by the need for hospital beds. There are simply not enough beds in government hospitals.' 'We will need a large number of medical professionals and without the private sector's involvement, the government won't be able to expand capacity.'

E-commerce deliveries come to a grinding halt

E-commerce deliveries come to a grinding halt

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2020

There is a lot of police action on the ground and even inter-state movement has been stopped, because of which deliveries of essential items via platforms, such as Flipkart, Amazon, Grofers, and Milkbasket, aren't happening. Food-delivery firms -- Swiggy and Zomato -- are facing similar challenges, according to the sources.

Start-ups scrape the bottom of the barrel

Start-ups scrape the bottom of the barrel

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2020

According to a survey by community platform LocalCircles, early-stage start-ups, funding dependent start-ups and many small businesses will soon be fighting for survival as the spurt in coronavirus cases hits them hard.

Now, tech-driven solutions to track coronavirus patients

Now, tech-driven solutions to track coronavirus patients

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2020

Bengaluru-based Healthtech start-up Mfine has rolled out a coronavirus assessment feature which enables virtual medical consultation to assess patients who have flu-like symptoms. Portea and Haptik habe developed chatbots, which will disseminate information related to coronavirus.

1% TDS levy could make your ecommerce buys costlier

1% TDS levy could make your ecommerce buys costlier

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2020

Apart from making your purchases on these platforms expensive, it will also mean sellers will have to face the brunt of reduced cash flows amid already low margins for some. Experts said the proposal, which will take effect on April 1, 2020, and will be inserted as a new section in the Income Tax Act, is expected to affect the working capital of e-commerce companies and reduce cash flows for e-sellers.

Zoomcar to be electric vehicle-driven by 2025

Zoomcar to be electric vehicle-driven by 2025

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2019

The company, which rents cars by the hour, day, week and month, has Mahindra E2O Plus and Tata E Tigor available on the platform for which it charges a subscription fee of Rs 15,000-20,000 per month.

How Infosys plans to check attrition

How Infosys plans to check attrition

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2019

With the attrition rate continuing well above 20 per cent, one of the highest in the segment, Infosys is on a drive to reimagine the way it engages with employees starting from the time of recruitment itself. The company is using digital technologies in order to simplify recruitment, provide faster career track to employees, and incentivise people with top skills. The company is looking at doubling the number of recruits from tier-I engineering colleges such as IITs and NITs to enrich its talent base. These candidates who are offered twice the salary as compared to regular campus recruits, join as 'power programmers', a term that has been internally coined by the company to recognise the top coders.