Shine Jacob, Aathira Varier, Ishita Ayan Dutt

Stories by Shine Jacob, Aathira Varier, Ishita Ayan Dutt

Tamil Nadu Elections: Jobs Promise Drives Voter Sentiment In Panapakkam

Tamil Nadu Elections: Jobs Promise Drives Voter Sentiment In Panapakkam

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2026

As industrial plants boost the village's profile, locals demand priority hiring, alongside better storage facilities and water security.

Automation nudges banks towards leaner workforce

Automation nudges banks towards leaner workforce

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2026

Major Indian banks, including Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and RBL Bank, have reported a decline in employee headcount in FY26, attributing the reductions to significant investments in technology and automation yielding productivity gains across operations.

West Bengal Elections: Time For Singur To Move On

West Bengal Elections: Time For Singur To Move On

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2026

Years after the Nano exit, Singur's farmers now seek industry and jobs, as the land remains caught between failed promises and political contest.

Jio Financial formalises general insurance foray with Allianz

Jio Financial formalises general insurance foray with Allianz

Rediff.com   23 Apr 2026

Jio Financial Services and Munich-based Allianz Group have signed a binding agreement to establish a 50:50 joint venture for general and health insurance in India, building on an earlier reinsurance partnership.

Shares of life insurers dip as DFS calls for end to exclusive bank tie-ups

Shares of life insurers dip as DFS calls for end to exclusive bank tie-ups

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2026

Shares of Indian life insurance companies, particularly SBI Life Insurance and Canara HSBC Life Insurance, saw significant declines after the Department of Financial Services (DFS) secretary, M Nagaraju, stated that banks are being asked to avoid exclusive tie-ups with their own insurance subsidiaries and instead remain neutral.

India's Outward FDI Jumps 27.5% to $7.06 Billion in March

India's Outward FDI Jumps 27.5% to $7.06 Billion in March

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2026

India's outward foreign direct investment (FDI) saw a significant increase of 27.5 per cent, reaching $7.06 billion in March, primarily driven by a sharp rise in guarantees for overseas units, according to the Reserve Bank of India.

Will Vijay Be Tamil Nadu's Showstopper?

Will Vijay Be Tamil Nadu's Showstopper?

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2026

Whether he comes to power or not, both his admirers and opponents agree on one thing -- Vijay may well turn out to be the 'X factor'.

Industrial credit growth may clock 9-13% in H1CY26

Industrial credit growth may clock 9-13% in H1CY26

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2026

The Indian banking sector is projected to experience a steady 9-13 per cent industrial credit growth in the first half of 2026, driven by capital expenditure, infrastructure development, and sectoral demand recovery, according to a Ficci-IBA survey.

HDFC Life profit rose 4% in Q4; parent bank to invest Rs 1,000 crore

HDFC Life profit rose 4% in Q4; parent bank to invest Rs 1,000 crore

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2026

HDFC Life Insurance reported a 4 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit to Rs 495.6 crore for Q4FY26, while its parent, HDFC Bank, announced a Rs 1,000 crore preferential share issuance to raise its stake to 50.5 per cent.

Renault gets 'FutuREady', to launch 7 new cars by 2030

Renault gets 'FutuREady', to launch 7 new cars by 2030

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2026

The Renault group is set to significantly expand its presence in India, aiming to establish the country as one of its top three global markets by 2030 through the launch of seven new vehicles, a 5 per cent market share target, and ambitious export goals.

LIC unveils MyLIC and Super Sales Saathi apps for digital transformation

LIC unveils MyLIC and Super Sales Saathi apps for digital transformation

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2026

Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) has launched two new mobile applications, MyLIC for policyholders and Super Sales Saathi for its sales intermediaries, aiming to enhance digital agility and cater to the younger generation's needs. The apps, part of LIC's DIVE digital transformation platform, offer features like policy management, premium payments, and personalised recommendations.

GST rationalisation, equity volatility to hit insurers' Q4FY26 profitability

GST rationalisation, equity volatility to hit insurers' Q4FY26 profitability

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2026

Indian insurance companies are bracing for reduced profitability in Q4FY26, primarily due to the rationalisation of GST on retail life and health policies, leading to a loss of input tax credit, coupled with volatility in equity markets impacting investment income.

Silver lining to India's ageing truck fleet

Silver lining to India's ageing truck fleet

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2026

India's rapidly ageing truck fleet, with 42% of vehicles over 12 years old, is set to trigger a replacement-driven growth of 3-5% annually over the next five years.

Paddy Bonus: Stalin Vs Sitharaman

Paddy Bonus: Stalin Vs Sitharaman

Rediff.com   13 Apr 2026

The finance ministry has clarified that its letter to state chief secretaries, urging them to align their bonus policy to promote pulses, oilseeds, and millets, was an advisory and not a directive. This clarification comes in response to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's criticism, who called the advisory a 'treacherous act against farmers'.

Rupee likely to stabilise at 92-93 per dollar: EAC-PM chairman

Rupee likely to stabilise at 92-93 per dollar: EAC-PM chairman

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2026

S Mahendra Dev, chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, expressed confidence that the rupee would stabilise around the 92-93 level against the US dollar, despite geopolitical tensions, and that foreign investment flows would return.

Gold price volatility: Lenders demand more collateral or partial repayment if LTVs breached

Gold price volatility: Lenders demand more collateral or partial repayment if LTVs breached

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2026

Lenders are actively monitoring gold price volatility, prompting them to ask borrowers for additional gold collateral or partial principal repayment when loan-to-value (LTV) thresholds are breached, particularly for loans disbursed in February.

Strait of Hormuz opens to ships but marine covers to stay pricey

Strait of Hormuz opens to ships but marine covers to stay pricey

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2026

Despite Iran allowing 'non-hostile vessels' through the Strait of Hormuz, marine insurance premiums are expected to remain elevated due to persistent high-risk classifications and ongoing geopolitical tensions, with experts cautioning that the threat of attacks and collateral damage still exists.

Banks' gold loan portfolio surged 128% in Feb

Banks' gold loan portfolio surged 128% in Feb

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2026

Loans against gold jewellery in India surged by an impressive 128 per cent year-on-year to nearly 4.28 trillion in February 2026, according to the latest Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data, significantly outpacing overall retail loan growth.

VinFast targets 75 dealerships by 2026, expands EV ecosystem in India

VinFast targets 75 dealerships by 2026, expands EV ecosystem in India

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2026

Vietnamese automobile major VinFast is rapidly expanding its retail network in India, aiming for 75 dealerships across 60 cities by the end of 2026, while also building a comprehensive EV ecosystem.

Renault Launches New Duster: Features, Price and Performance

Renault Launches New Duster: Features, Price and Performance

Rediff.com   24 Mar 2026

Renault India has launched the all-new Renault Duster, featuring a turbo petrol engine and advanced features, with dispatches underway nationwide.