Shine Jacob &Amp;Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee

Stories by Shine Jacob &Amp;Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee

Kharif crop sowing picks up pace as monsoon moves in

Kharif crop sowing picks up pace as monsoon moves in

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2020

Data from department of agriculture showed that kharif crops had been sown in around 31.56 million hectares till Friday, which was 104.25 per cent more than the same period last year. Acreage of almost all crops was higher than last year.

Can we ever keep China out of Indian industries?

Can we ever keep China out of Indian industries?

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2020

Experts say while the increasing demand for a ban on Chinese goods might make for good optics, the reality is that India is still heavily dependent on that country in a wide range of industries like electronics, mobile devices, auto, pharma, telecom equipment, and fertilisers.

Pinarayi Vijayan: The CM as crisis manager

Pinarayi Vijayan: The CM as crisis manager

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2020

The Kerala chief minister's four years in office may well be remembered for the way he handled Cyclone Ockhi, two floods, Nipah, and now COVID-19, reports Shine Jacob.

ONGC halts operations at two rigs as 54 employees test COVID positive

ONGC halts operations at two rigs as 54 employees test COVID positive

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2020

A company official said work stopped temporarily only at two rigs and the remaining 34 in the offshore were operational. He added there was no impact on the company's production.

Ladakh stand-off: Railways cancels Chinese contract

Ladakh stand-off: Railways cancels Chinese contract

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2020

Govt has already approached World Bank seeking termination of contract. The progress of the project was just 20 per cent though the contract was awarded in 2016.

A glimpse of how economic activity is picking up

A glimpse of how economic activity is picking up

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2020

While freight traffic has gone up, the Google location data shows more people are stepping out of their homes.

Why there's such a gap between wholesale and retail food inflation?

Why there's such a gap between wholesale and retail food inflation?

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2020

Since March 2020, WPI food inflation rate continued to fall but the CPI-food inflation rose, signaling a breakdown in supply chain from the mandis to the final household.

Experts from US to join efforts to control Assam oil well fire

Experts from US to join efforts to control Assam oil well fire

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2020

Singapore-based Alert Disaster Control, one of the largest disaster management companies in the oil and gas sector, has already joined the team of experts from ONGC and OIL, reports Shine Jacob.

MP, not Punjab is now the top wheat-procuring state

MP, not Punjab is now the top wheat-procuring state

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2020

Till date, MP has procured around 12.77 million tonnes of wheat, which is expected to reach 13 million tonnes by the time the process ends in the next few weeks.

Lockdown woes: Rail freight traffic drops 28% in April-May

Lockdown woes: Rail freight traffic drops 28% in April-May

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2020

Freight earnings too saw a decline of Rs 8,284 crore to Rs 13,412 crore in the first two months of FY21, compared to Rs 21,696 crore during the same period last year.

Centre's agri market reform ordinance comes under fire

Centre's agri market reform ordinance comes under fire

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2020

Kiran Vissa, co-convenor of National Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, said that amendments to the EC Act have nothing to do with farmers' welfare but instead meant to please big players and agriculture companies. This is because small and marginal farmers don't have the storage capacity to attract provisions of the EC Act.

The flip side of oil companies' digital drive

The flip side of oil companies' digital drive

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2020

OMCs' Digital India move is likely to have an impact on more than 80.3 million Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana consumers, majority of whom are not exposed to digital transact.

Agriculture grew 4% in FY19-20, but what about this year?

Agriculture grew 4% in FY19-20, but what about this year?

Rediff.com   30 May 2020

As the growth figures relate to pre-Covid lockdown period it does not reflect the real picture of distress which unfolded from April onwards in the sector, when acute supply disruption led to sharp drop in prices of many commodities largely perishables impacting farmers.

Locust invasion puts summer crop in many states at risk

Locust invasion puts summer crop in many states at risk

Rediff.com   27 May 2020

The locusts initially entered Rajasthan from Pakistan and from there the swarms moved towards Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab over the last few weeks and are now threatening to enter Uttar Pradesh, putting at risk the summer crop.

Railways likely to freeze hiring, cut allowances

Railways likely to freeze hiring, cut allowances

Rediff.com   26 May 2020

Railway traffic has dropped 32 per cent to 99.86 mt between April 1 and May 14, compared to the same time last year, while its revenue, too, dipped 41 per cent to Rs 9,094.38 crore.

Low demand pulls down India's April oil refinery output by 29%

Low demand pulls down India's April oil refinery output by 29%

Rediff.com   24 May 2020

According to industry experts, the consumption of petroleum products in the month of April was only 30-40 per cent of what it had been prior to the lockdown. Due to this, refineries were forced to bring down their capacity too.

'Centre takes decisions without consulting states'

'Centre takes decisions without consulting states'

Rediff.com   17 May 2020

'The spirit of cooperation between the Centre and states has been diluted in many ways.' 'The level of consultation which used to be there earlier has reduced significantly.'

How Centre plans to enable free inter-state agri trade

How Centre plans to enable free inter-state agri trade

Rediff.com   17 May 2020

The government is looking at tweaking provisions of the Indian Contracts Act of 1872 to bring agreements between farmers and companies under its ambit, aiming to prevent exploitation of farm people.

Sitharaman likely to focus on poor, farm sector next

Sitharaman likely to focus on poor, farm sector next

Rediff.com   14 May 2020

Later, there may be some tax relief aimed at the middle class and measures to benefit the sectors worst hit by Covid-19 and the resultant nationwide lockdown.

Mix of relief and fear as rail services start

Mix of relief and fear as rail services start

Rediff.com   13 May 2020

For many the resumption of trains is a big boon, but some say it doesn't come without confusion and worries