Shine Jacob And Indivjal Dhasmana

Stories by Shine Jacob And Indivjal Dhasmana

Freebies Making States Cash-Strapped?

Freebies Making States Cash-Strapped?

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2022

While the likelihood of these states going the Lanka or Greece way may be an alarming assessment, the financial situation of some states such as Punjab and West Bengal is indeed quite weak.

Stalin comes into his own in a year, national role next?

Stalin comes into his own in a year, national role next?

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2022

The Tamil Nadu government saw an increase in foreign direct investment by 41.5 per cent during the April-December period.

Why Ola decides to recall 1,441 units of S1

Why Ola decides to recall 1,441 units of S1

Rediff.com   25 Apr 2022

Ola Electric became the latest among electric scooter (e-scooter) makers to have started the exercise of recalling a specific batch of its model after a rap on the knuckles by the government. Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday advised electric vehicle (EV) companies to act responsibly by identifying and recalling defective batches without waiting for orders or guidelines from the ministry. The Bengaluru-based start-up is conducting pre-emptive diagnostics and health check on 1,441 scooters, it said in a statement on Sunday.

Why BPCL divestment is on the slow track

Why BPCL divestment is on the slow track

Rediff.com   12 Apr 2022

In December 2019, the India arm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu surprised many with its ultra-competitive bid to become the transaction advisor for the country's largest strategic divestment in Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL). The multinational major quoted just Rs 1; the second-highest bidder, SBI Caps, reportedly quoted Rs 15-17 crore. For Deloitte, the motivation was to bag a prestigious deal adding a national energy company to its portfolio. No doubt, it expected BPCL to go to a marquee buyer in quick time.

Long-pending four labour codes may go live by June-end

Long-pending four labour codes may go live by June-end

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2022

Their implementation is expected to create investment owing to improving ease of doing business as well as initiating pro-worker measures.

TN sets up GST advisory body, experts fear it may clash with Centre

TN sets up GST advisory body, experts fear it may clash with Centre

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2022

If other states follow suit, it is going to become difficult for the GST Council to decide on the next stage of reforms.

How safe are India's electric scooters?

How safe are India's electric scooters?

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2022

The government-appointed expert committee, which probes incidents of Ola Electric's S1 Pro and Okinawa vehicles catching fires, has added the latest case of fire involving PureEV electric scooter to its investigation, a senior government official told Business Standard. "A team comprising experts from Indian Institute of Science (IISC) and Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) are investigating the cases. "As soon as the report is submitted, we shall take appropriate action," said Giridhar Aramane, secretary at the ministry of road transport and highways.

Retail price inflation not to fall below RBI's 6% mandate any time soon

Retail price inflation not to fall below RBI's 6% mandate any time soon

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2022

However, it may still not change its stance on the policy rate as inflationary pressures are coming from high commodity prices.

India may import 15 mn barrels of cheap Russian oil

India may import 15 mn barrels of cheap Russian oil

Rediff.com   24 Mar 2022

Taking advantage of a Russian offer to sell its crude oil cheap and bear the cost of insurance and transportation, India may import as much as 2 million tonnes (mt), or roughly 15 million barrels of crude, from the sanctioned nation in 2022, Business Standard has learnt. This comes after reports that Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) bought 3 million barrels of Russian Urals from trader Vitol for May delivery. This will be on cost, insurance and freight (CIF) model, where the seller incurs the costs and pays the freight, including insurance charges.

Worrying news for consumers as health costs creep up

Worrying news for consumers as health costs creep up

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2022

Since January 2021, the inflation rate in health has stood in the range of 6.08-8.44 per cent.

Govt may miss Rs 6-trillion national monetisation target

Govt may miss Rs 6-trillion national monetisation target

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2022

The Centre's ambitious Rs 6-trillion National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP) could fall short of yearly targets for the current fiscal year (FY22) and the next one as well (FY23), partly due to the long gestation period in monetising big-ticket railway infrastructure, Business Standard has learnt from sources in the finance and rail ministries. Officials say the major chunk of railway monetisation will happen from FY24 onwards because leasing some of the infrastructure, like stadiums and dedicated freight corridor, will not happen anytime soon. Rail infra is expected to be the second-biggest contributor to the NMP, with about Rs 1.52 trillion worth of assets to be monetised.

The $8.5 billion TVS Group splits to grow: What's changed structure-wise?

The $8.5 billion TVS Group splits to grow: What's changed structure-wise?

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2022

The $8.5 billion TVS Group received final approval for a family resettlement on February 4 from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). It is an arrangement that is noteworthy because unlike many other corporate settlements this one was sorted out amicably and without any open conflicts.

India Inc braces for fallout of Russia-Ukraine crisis

India Inc braces for fallout of Russia-Ukraine crisis

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2022

Stocks of Indian companies with exposure to Europe fell on Tuesday amid concerns about the impact on their sales in case the Russia-Ukraine crisis worsens and the US and its allies impose economic sanctions on Russia. While top conglomerates, including Reliance Industries, the Tata group, and Aditya Birla Group, said they did not have any significant exposure to Russia, executives of some of the oil and gas, pharmaceutical, and tea companies said they were monitoring the situation closely as they earned substantial income from the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered troops into two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine after announcing that Russia would recognise their independence.

'Introduce another slab to tax the super-rich'

'Introduce another slab to tax the super-rich'

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2022

'We can go somewhere between 35 per cent and 40 per cent.'

'Petroleum Prices Will Rise After Date Of Counting'

'Petroleum Prices Will Rise After Date Of Counting'

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2022

'The signal is crude oil prices will rise, I am cutting my subsidy. Be prepared, prices will rise.'

Iconic TVS group families start restructuring businesses

Iconic TVS group families start restructuring businesses

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2022

As part of the exercise, each family will get complete ownership of the businesses it manages while scrapping the holding company.

'ISRO's goal is to develop a rocket company'

'ISRO's goal is to develop a rocket company'

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2022

'We have all the technologies available, but it should be converted to something that can be commercially viable.'

Indian firms, banks cautious as Sri Lanka battles financial crisis

Indian firms, banks cautious as Sri Lanka battles financial crisis

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2022

Banks and companies in India are taking a cautious approach towards Sri Lanka, which, reeling from a financial crisis, has sought a $1-billion loan from the country to import essential commodities. A senior State Bank of India (SBI) executive said the bank was committed (to Sri Lanka) for the long term. "As far as exposures (are concerned), the bank will be cautious on its dollar exposure to Sri Lankan entities till the situation improves," he said.

Social media startup Pepul to launch on R-Day

Social media startup Pepul to launch on R-Day

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2022

After raising Rs 10 crore in seed funding last week from investors like Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Freshworks founder Girish Mathrabootham and Silicon Valley based venture capitalist firm Hourglass Venture, Chennai-based social media startup Pepul told Business Standard that it is looking to raise around Rs 200 crore by June this year for expansion. The social media platform, focused on online ethical practices, will be launched by 1,000 entrepreneurs across the country on January 26. Pepul, founded by G Suresh Kumar, will be using an Aadhaar-based user verification system to get rid of fake accounts on its platform. "We are planning to raise around Rs 200 crore by June this year.

Now, ready-to-eat fryums papad to draw 18% GST

Now, ready-to-eat fryums papad to draw 18% GST

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2022

Deciding the goods and services tax rate on fryums papad could be a messy affair with the Appellate Authority for Advance Rulings (AAAR) of Gujarat now ruling that the ready-to-eat product would draw 18 per cent rate. In that connection, it slightly modified the ruling of the state-based Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR). The AAR had also ordered that these products would draw 18 per cent GST but under a different classification.