Shine Jacob, Nitin Kumar

Stories by Shine Jacob, Nitin Kumar

CNG Vehicles Ride Past Diesel In Sales Race

CNG Vehicles Ride Past Diesel In Sales Race

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2024

'Primary buyers are commercial taxi and fleet operators and small businessmen.' 'CNG prices have been remarkably stable unlike petrol.'

Bangladesh Crisis: India's Two Wheelers Cos To Take Hit

Bangladesh Crisis: India's Two Wheelers Cos To Take Hit

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2024

Indian companies also hold a considerable share of the car, bus, and three-wheeler markets in the country.

Krishna Chivukula Donates Rs 228 Crore To IIT-Madras

Krishna Chivukula Donates Rs 228 Crore To IIT-Madras

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2024

'His contribution not only elevates our institution but also serves as an inspiring example of how our alumni community continues to drive meaningful change.'

Bangladesh Crisis: Advantage Tiruppur!

Bangladesh Crisis: Advantage Tiruppur!

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2024

India's gain will be an additional business of $300 million to $400 million per month if 10-11% of Bangladesh's export is diverted to Indian hubs like Tiruppur.

PV inventory surges even as auto retail sales rise

PV inventory surges even as auto retail sales rise

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2024

Automobile (auto) retail sales in India grew by an impressive 14 per cent in July compared to the same period last year, driven by a surge in the rural economy, good product availability, and product launches. While passenger vehicles (PVs) saw a 10 per cent increase during this period, inventory levels have surged to a historic high of 67-72 days in PVs, equating to Rs 73,000 crore worth of stock, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (Fada). This poses a risk to dealer sustainability. Inventory levels in July 2023 were only 50-55 days, equating to a stock worth Rs 49,833 crore. In June 2024, inventory was between 62 and 67 days, with a stock value of Rs 60,000 crore.

M&A wave set to sweep over South cement market, say industry experts

M&A wave set to sweep over South cement market, say industry experts

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2024

UltraTech Cement's announcement that it would snap up a controlling stake in India Cements may only be a sign of more to come. In the wake of one of the country's most expensive deals in recent times, cement majors may slug it out to add smaller firms from the region to their portfolio. UltraTech's buy is the latest in the four deals the southern market has seen in less than a year, with Adani Cement being the other buyer.

Why Are Bengaluru IT Workers Protesting?

Why Are Bengaluru IT Workers Protesting?

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2024

'The overwhelming evidence from various studies and reports indicates that the current work culture in the IT sector, characterised by excessive hours, has severe consequences for health, productivity, and overall quality of life.'

Why EV sales set roads on fire in July

Why EV sales set roads on fire in July

Rediff.com   2 Aug 2024

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in July touched 178,948 units, marking the highest monthly sales this financial year. This represents a 27.9 per cent increase from June, which saw 139,905 units sold, according to the Vahan data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The strong performance in July contributed to more than one million being sold in the first seven months of the calendar year.

Skilling plan laudable, but needs clarity: Biz leaders

Skilling plan laudable, but needs clarity: Biz leaders

Rediff.com   2 Aug 2024

While praising the internship scheme announced in the Budget, India Inc wants clarity on how it will be implemented. The scheme is expected to help companies address the skill gap in employment. Dheeraj Hinduja, chairman, auto major Ashok Leyland, said: "We had started an internship programme at our plant in Pantnagar, which we established in 2010 with colleges there.

Tiger Deaths Decline By 29 Percent

Tiger Deaths Decline By 29 Percent

Rediff.com   31 Jul 2024

2023 was the worst for the tiger population, recording the highest number of mortalities in a decade with 178 tigers dying.

'Made in India' Apparel Off To Paris Olympics

'Made in India' Apparel Off To Paris Olympics

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2024

If you see 'Made in India' apparel at any of the IOC's retail channels, it may have well come from Tiruppur, manufactured by a firm, which is owned by a mother-daughter duo, called Back Bay India.

Indian Biz Sees Hope After Bangladesh SC Order

Indian Biz Sees Hope After Bangladesh SC Order

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2024

'Bilateral trade has suffered seriously because of the growing unrest.' 'There is a standstill on both sides amid the curfew.'

Nipah Death Puts Kerala On Alert

Nipah Death Puts Kerala On Alert

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2024

The scare of communicable diseases seems to be gripping the country with Maharashtra reporting 28 Zika cases this year, the highest since 2021.

Downpour Of Diseases In India

Downpour Of Diseases In India

Rediff.com   20 Jul 2024

Kerala has had 202 fatalities in 2024 so far. In July alone, there were 202,122 episodes of fever, 2,250 cases of dengue, 1,850 cases of mumps and several other illnesses. 10,000 cases of dengue have been reported from Karnataka. 1,000 swine flu cases have been documented in Rajasthan.

Area for critical minerals mining expanded

Area for critical minerals mining expanded

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2024

The Centre has increased the area granted to individual players by more than four fold in order to boost mining of critical minerals. Issuing an order on Tuesday, the government said, for mining leases, the area has been expanded from the current limit of 10 sq km to 50 sq km. For prospecting licences (granted in the case of composite licence), the limit has been increased from 25 sq km to 100 sq km.

Honda 2W share rises after on-board norms compliance

Honda 2W share rises after on-board norms compliance

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2024

The battle for the top spot in the two-wheeler market is intensifying. The gap between Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) in retail sales narrowed to just 45,607 units in June. This improvement comes as HMSI has clawed back market share after dipping to a historic low of 18 per cent in May 2023. Now, the retail market shares of the two companies are 28.86 per cent and 25.54 per cent, respectively, compared to 35.54 per cent and 18.05 per cent in May 2023.

Priyanka's Entry To Boost Congress In South

Priyanka's Entry To Boost Congress In South

Rediff.com   16 Jul 2024

Priyanka's victory seems assured, but the broader implications for Kerala's political landscape and South Indian politics remain to be seen.

EMPS 2024: OEMs can claim incentives twice a month, Aadhaar mandatory

EMPS 2024: OEMs can claim incentives twice a month, Aadhaar mandatory

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2024

The government has taken a slew of steps to boost the sales of electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers under its Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024, which includes allowing manufacturers to upload claims twice a month and gives them a 120-day window to submit it. The Rs 500-crore scheme -- which had replaced the flagship Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme-- comes to an end on July 31st.

Labour Pains, The Silent Crisis Undermining India's Infrastructure Boom

Labour Pains, The Silent Crisis Undermining India's Infrastructure Boom

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2024

Severe skilled, unskilled shortage threatens to pull emergency brakes on India's industrial engine.

EMPS 2024: Only 3.6% vehicle sales target met

EMPS 2024: Only 3.6% vehicle sales target met

Rediff.com   8 Jul 2024

The Rs 500-crore Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme (EMPS) 2024, introduced by the Centre to provide incentives to the electric mobility industry, will conclude on July 31 with barely 3.6 per cent of the targeted vehicle sales achieved so far. This is in stark contrast to the earlier flagship Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme, which exceeded its sales targets. According to data from the Ministry of Heavy Industry (MHI), only 13,499 of the 372,215 targeted vehicles have been sold under the EMPS scheme.