Sanjeeb Mukherjee &Amp; Subhayan Chakraborty

Stories by Sanjeeb Mukherjee &Amp; Subhayan Chakraborty

Bharti dials up UK telecom play with $4 bn stake in BT

Bharti dials up UK telecom play with $4 bn stake in BT

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2024

Bharti Global, the international investment arm of Bharti Enterprises, has decided to buy 24.5 per cent equity in BT Group - a move that will make the Indian conglomerate the biggest shareholder in the UK's second-largest telecom company both in terms of market value and subscriber count. The shares are being purchased from billionaire Patrick Drahi's Altice UK through a combination of cash and debt .

Imports of pulses may dip in FY25 on good monsoon

Imports of pulses may dip in FY25 on good monsoon

Rediff.com   12 Aug 2024

After climbing to the highest level in more than five years to 4.7 million tonnes in FY24, India might import fewer quantities of pulses this financial year at 4-4.5 mt on the back of good monsoon and higher domestic production, Bimal Kothari, chairman of India Pulses and Grains Association (IPGA), said in New Delhi on Friday. Kothari was addressing reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on pulses titled "Bharat Dalhan-2024".

Hunger in India came down to 13.7% during 2021-23: UN-FAO report

Hunger in India came down to 13.7% during 2021-23: UN-FAO report

Rediff.com   1 Aug 2024

In what could come as a piece of good news, hunger in India - as measured by the Prevalence of Undernourishment (PoU) by the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) - has come down from 16.6 per cent of the population in the 2020-2022 to 13.7 per cent in 2021-23, the latest report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2024) showed. This means that around 39.3 million people have come out of undernourishment between the two periods, NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand said on Tuesday.

BJP States Go All Out With Populist Schemes

BJP States Go All Out With Populist Schemes

Rediff.com   20 Jul 2024

Several BJP-backed state governments have unveiled schemes targeting the poor, women, farmers and students, following the party's setback in the Lok Sabha polls.

Budget: Nirmalaji's Huge Rural Sector Challenge

Budget: Nirmalaji's Huge Rural Sector Challenge

Rediff.com   20 Jul 2024

Alloting more funds for MNREGA and PM-KISAN could wipe out the entire additional money that the Centre may have for FY25.

Why Are Milk Prices On The Boil?

Why Are Milk Prices On The Boil?

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2024

Milk supplies could improve with the monsoon, provided the rains are not excessive.

Non-basmati rice bore the brunt of export curbs imposed in 2023

Non-basmati rice bore the brunt of export curbs imposed in 2023

Rediff.com   18 Jul 2024

As a panel of senior ministers deliberates on the need to review curbs on exports of some rice varieties, data shows that since outbound shipments saw restrictions in July-August last year, the non-basmati segment has suffered more than basmati exports. Sources said the panel is expected to soon deliberate on a few suggestions to ease the export curbs on some rice varieties due to higher-than-required stocks in the central pool. The panel, some observers feel, may also postpone the decision to ease the export curbs till a firm picture emerges on the latest kharif paddy sowing.

Data stickiness likely to see users absorb mobile tariff hike: Analysts

Data stickiness likely to see users absorb mobile tariff hike: Analysts

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2024

Consumers are unlikely to disconnect their mobile connections and will most likely absorb the up to 22 per cent tariff hike imposed last week by Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi), according to analysts. The last major tariff hike in 2021 was followed by a 4-5 per cent SIM consolidation, with people leaving mobile operators with more expensive plans for their peers offering comparatively affordable options.

BEWARE! Govt Can Intercept Messages

BEWARE! Govt Can Intercept Messages

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2024

Messages sent through Internet-based messaging service providers such as Whatsapp, Signal, and Telegram, as well as those which are encrypted, are understood to be within the Act's ambit.

DoT Sets 100 Days Agenda For New Telecom Rules

DoT Sets 100 Days Agenda For New Telecom Rules

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2024

'The idea is to frame the ToR quickly, so that Trai can begin its consultations with industry stakeholders.'

India AI mission to be key priority for telecom ministry

India AI mission to be key priority for telecom ministry

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2024

Many who track the ministry and the technology sector closely believe that the space won't see much impact on the policymaking side, but the gestation time for regulations might get long, as now there could be a wider consensus-building exercise on policy matters under a coalition government.

Balancing green concerns with soaring energy demand

Balancing green concerns with soaring energy demand

Rediff.com   18 Jun 2024

Rising energy demand could tilt India's energy basket towards fossil fuels from coal to oil, natural gas.

Can Modi 3.0 Keep Food Inflation In Check?

Can Modi 3.0 Keep Food Inflation In Check?

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2024

Increased production of pulses, oilseeds, and cereals will help boost domestic supplies and contribute to keeping inflation low in the coming months.

How Trai Plans To Scuttle Scams

How Trai Plans To Scuttle Scams

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2024

Numbers could be classified further into (140) marketing and (160 or 161) for service calls to easily identify the purpose of the call in the future.

China Remains Jaishankar's Main Problem

China Remains Jaishankar's Main Problem

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2024

'China is India's primary strategic challenge, which will not go away.

Telcos reiterate demands over FSC, 6 GHz spectrum

Telcos reiterate demands over FSC, 6 GHz spectrum

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2024

Telecom service providers have doubled down on their demands for a proposed fair-share charge (FSC) to be levied on major over-the-top (OTT) service providers, opening up the 6 GHz spectrum band and increasing the number of testing labs for telecommunication products. Telecom industry body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Wednesday said these were the topmost demands for Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. The industry body wants this additional capital expenditure to be borne by these Large Traffic Generator (LTGs) OTTs as a proposed fair-share charge.

Modi 3.0: 'Viksit Bharat' Reforms Not To Take Back Seat

Modi 3.0: 'Viksit Bharat' Reforms Not To Take Back Seat

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2024

'The expeditious enactment of labour codes and strategic measures to bridge the skills jobs gap are critical.'

BPCL divestment completely off the table, says Hardeep Singh Puri

BPCL divestment completely off the table, says Hardeep Singh Puri

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2024

BPCL is a high revenue-earning public-sector undertaking (PSU) and plans to privatise it are completely off the table, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday after assuming charge of the ministry for the second time. "Why would we divest ourselves of highly successful Maharatnas like BPCL," Puri said, arguing the Centre was not in favour of divesting its stake in oil PSUs.

Delhi's 52.9 Degree Reading Probably Due to Sensor Error

Delhi's 52.9 Degree Reading Probably Due to Sensor Error

Rediff.com   31 May 2024

The Met department blamed the malfunctioning of sensors kept at the Automated Weather Station for the gaffe.

Rains May Be Delayed Over Northwest India

Rains May Be Delayed Over Northwest India

Rediff.com   31 May 2024

The rains after arriving over Kerala will quickly cover Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, but then might slacken a bit, which could delay its arrival over Northwest India.