Shine Jacob, Nitin Kumar

Stories by Shine Jacob, Nitin Kumar

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.

Why EV Sales Dropped To 14%

Why EV Sales Dropped To 14%

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2024

So far this year, around 839,545 electric vehicles have been sold, accounting for approximately 6.69% of the total 12,541,684 vehicles sold.

Does No One Want To Buy Cars?

Does No One Want To Buy Cars?

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2024

Passenger vehicle sales are expected to experience muted growth in the current financial year.

Even MBAs Find It Tough To Get Jobs

Even MBAs Find It Tough To Get Jobs

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2024

'Corporations that were recruiting 15 or 20 [students] have reduced the number to two or three.'

How Kalki's Bujji Was Born

How Kalki's Bujji Was Born

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2024

'Fun stuff does, indeed, happen on X.'

India's maiden critical mineral auctions: Who are the participants?

India's maiden critical mineral auctions: Who are the participants?

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2024

India on Monday announced the results for the country's first critical mineral auction. Amid the tepid response from big players, the list of successful bidders included some lesser known names. A total of five companies secured bids for six critical mineral blocks of graphite, manganese, phosphorite, lithium, and rare earth elements with auction premiums ranging from 13.05 per cent to 400 per cent.

Mining majors give a miss to country's maiden critical minerals auction

Mining majors give a miss to country's maiden critical minerals auction

Rediff.com   25 Jun 2024

The maiden, critical mineral auction in India has failed to enthuse the mining industry, with the first tranche achieving less than a 50 per cent success rate and the auction of several mines was cancelled owing to low response. The results, announced by the Ministry of Mines on Monday, showed that six lesser-known companies emerged as preferred bidders. Among these were Agrasen Sponge, Kundan Gold Mines, Dalmia Bharat Refractories, Sagar Stone Industries, and Maiki South Mining.

Paris Olympics Will Be HOT!

Paris Olympics Will Be HOT!

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2024

Athletes and climate experts have expressed concerns that extreme heat could lead to severe health issues, including the risk of sportspeople collapsing or, in the worst-case scenarios, dying during the events.

'FAME must include tractors and LCVs'

'FAME must include tractors and LCVs'

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2024

'The scheme excludes tractors, light commercial vehicles, and medium and heavy commercial vehicles.'

Tata ev's Punch, Nexon Scores 5 In Crash Test

Tata ev's Punch, Nexon Scores 5 In Crash Test

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2024

The Punch.ev achieved the highest score point ever recorded by any vehicle to date, scoring 31.46 out of 32 for adult occupant protection and 45 out of 49 for child occupant protection.

Naidu At Helm, Amaravati Comes Alive

Naidu At Helm, Amaravati Comes Alive

Rediff.com   12 Jun 2024

Locals have witnessed real estate prices skyrocket from a historic low of Rs 6,000 per square yard (in 2020) during Jagan Mohan Reddy's regime to around Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 per square yard after elections.

'India can become centre of exporting fertiliser'

'India can become centre of exporting fertiliser'

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2024

'The government has put in a lot of effort to provide infrastructure for the industry.'

Green Mobility To Get Bigger Boost Under Modi 3.0

Green Mobility To Get Bigger Boost Under Modi 3.0

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2024

As Modi's government embarks on its third term, apart from ensuring these schemes boost India's green mobility, addressing bottlenecks like battery swapping and meeting PLI deadlines are likely to be the government's major tasks.

'Without incentives people will not purchase EVs'

'Without incentives people will not purchase EVs'

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2024

'Wherever the government has provided incentives for the purchase of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, cars, buses, and trucks, it gets a push for most of these alternate fuels. '

India eyes multiple mineral pacts with about a dozen countries in Africa

India eyes multiple mineral pacts with about a dozen countries in Africa

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2024

India is planning to soon sign new and updated mineral pacts with about a dozen countries in Africa. The Ministry of Mines is in discussions with Cte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Business Standard has learnt. Negotiations are ongoing with around a dozen countries, and more will be added to the list soon.