Shine Jacob, Shiva Rajora

Stories by Shine Jacob, Shiva Rajora

Hindus 78%, Muslims 14%: PM's Council

Hindus 78%, Muslims 14%: PM's Council

Rediff.com   9 May 2024

The share of the Hindu population declined by 7.8% to 78.06%.
In contrast, the share of the Muslim and Christian populations increased by 43.15% to 14.09%, and by 5.4% to 2.36%.

Advent to infuse Rs 2,475 cr into Apollo Hospitals' arm

Advent to infuse Rs 2,475 cr into Apollo Hospitals' arm

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2024

Apollo HealthCo Ltd (AHL), a subsidiary of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (AHEL), on Friday entered into a binding agreement to raise equity capital of Rs 2,475 crore from Advent International (Advent), one of the world's largest private equity (PE) players. The transaction will also see the merger of two units under Apollo Healthco - its wholesale pharma distribution unit Keimed Pvt Ltd and online healthcare business Apollo 24'7. The merger will take place in a phased manner over the next 24-30 months.

Political Movies Surge before Lok Sabha Polls

Political Movies Surge before Lok Sabha Polls

Rediff.com   25 Apr 2024

'Elections and audience interest in specific movies are often independent factors.'

Minimum wage cap: EPFO mulls hike after 10 years

Minimum wage cap: EPFO mulls hike after 10 years

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2024

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is considering raising the monthly minimum wage ceiling from Rs 15,000 now to improve the coverage and bring millions of informal workers under its purview. The last increase in the minimum wage ceiling was in 2014 to Rs 15,000 from Rs 6,500.

Can 'Singham Anna' Deliver For The BJP?

Can 'Singham Anna' Deliver For The BJP?

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2024

Annamalai has faced criticism for the breakup between the AIADMK and the BJP, but BJP leaders say 'he attracts youth, who needs change'.

Wooing Tesla: 4 States Pull Out All Stops

Wooing Tesla: 4 States Pull Out All Stops

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2024

'Gujarat is the frontrunner at present.'
'However, Tamil Nadu's robust automobile ecosystem and Telangana's aggressive incentives make them strong contenders.'

e-Shram may open door to govt benefits for workers

e-Shram may open door to govt benefits for workers

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2024

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government will use the unorganised workers database - e-Shram portal - to provide the benefits of various government programmes to the nearly 300 million workers over the next five years, if it is voted to power for the third consecutive term in the upcoming general elections. "We have registered unorganised workers on the e-Shram platform. "We will reach out to the e-Shram registered 'shramik bandhu' and help them avail the benefits of various government programmes that they are eligible for," the manifesto of the party read.

'Will end year with a growth rate of over 30 per cent'

'Will end year with a growth rate of over 30 per cent'

Rediff.com   13 Apr 2024

'In life insurance, it is about creating distribution capacity and solutions for customers. We are constantly working on that.'

Adani, JSW, PSA looking to bag Rs 7K cr Tuticorin project

Adani, JSW, PSA looking to bag Rs 7K cr Tuticorin project

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2024

A Rs 7,056 crore outer harbour project by VO Chidambaranar (VOC) Port in Tuticorin is garnering interest from domestic and global majors in the sector, such as Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, Singapore's PSA International, Dutch major Van Oord, JM Baxi, and JSW, among others, according to sources close to the development. The project aims to capitalise on the newfound investor interest in the region, spurred by mega investments such as the Rs 16,000 crore electric vehicle manufacturing unit by Vietnamese major VinFast, the Indian Space Research Organisation's second spaceport in Tamil Nadu's Kulasekarapattinam, and Singapore's Sembcorp's Rs 36,238 crore investment in renewable energy.

Election May Spike Sales Surge

Election May Spike Sales Surge

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2024

'During the scorching summer months of election season, largescale outdoor gatherings create a prime opportunity for increased consumption in the packaged drinking water category.'

Govt Wants India Inc To Hire Apprentices

Govt Wants India Inc To Hire Apprentices

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2024

Under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, close to 1 million apprentices will be trained in FY24.

New-age, standardised courses in skill ministry's 100-day plan

New-age, standardised courses in skill ministry's 100-day plan

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2024

In the first 100 days of the next government, the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) is planning to introduce new-age courses to suit the changing industry needs. It is set to standardise skilling courses to facilitate easier migration of workers and introduce counselling and mentorship on the Skill India Digital Hub (SIDH) portal. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi - during a Cabinet meeting - was reported to have instructed his ministers to draft roadmaps for the first 100 days and next five years of the next government.

PV or CV at TN plant? TaMo to decide based on trends

PV or CV at TN plant? TaMo to decide based on trends

Rediff.com   15 Mar 2024

Tata Motors will soon submit a detailed report on the upcoming manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu's Ranipet district and a decision, on whether the facility will churn out passenger or commercial vehicles, will be taken by the company on the basis of market trends, state's industries minister TRB Rajaa said on Thursday. "They are keeping the options open, and market trends will determine it (the type of vehicles the plant will make). "They will quickly come up with a detailed report on that," Rajaa said.

Longer working hours & low earnings: How India's gig workforce fares

Longer working hours & low earnings: How India's gig workforce fares

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2024

Long working hours, earnings that fall short of meeting household expenses, arbitrary deactivation and blocking of identity (ID) by platforms, and high physical and mental stress are among the major issues plaguing workers of the booming gig economy in India, a report based on a survey has found. Nearly 83 per cent cab drivers reported working for more than 10 hours in a day, while 78 per cent delivery personnel worked for the same duration, showed the report released on Monday, titled "Prisoners on Wheels" and based on a survey by the University of Pennsylvania and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT).

Rahul may win Wayanad but Kerala is no Congress fortress this time

Rahul may win Wayanad but Kerala is no Congress fortress this time

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2024

Political pundits unanimously suggest that the state is not experiencing a discernible Gandhi wave this time around.

Banks await RBI approval for appointing second whole-time director

Banks await RBI approval for appointing second whole-time director

Rediff.com   5 Mar 2024

More than half a dozen private-sector banks are awaiting regulatory approval for the appointment of a second whole-time director on their boards.

National pension system added 21.5% fewer corporate subscribers in 2023

National pension system added 21.5% fewer corporate subscribers in 2023

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2024

The National Pension System (NPS) added 21.5 per cent fewer fresh subscribers under the corporate segment in 2023 compared to the preceding year. Government officials and experts attribute it to the higher exemption limit of income tax of Rs 7 lakh announced in the FY24 Budget that no more requires employees under this income bracket to opt for NPS for tax-saving purposes. Data collated from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) reveals that the corporate component is voluntary in nature and saw 158,212 new subscribers in 2023 compared to 201,517 during 2022.

VinFast kicks off Tamil Nadu unit construction, seeks cut in import duty

VinFast kicks off Tamil Nadu unit construction, seeks cut in import duty

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2024

Vietnam-based electric vehicle maker VinFast, a rival of Tesla in the global market, has set foot in India and began work on building its Rs 16,000 crore EV manufacturing facility at Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu. The company has already sought a reduction in import duties on its cars for about two years until customers get familiar with the brand and its unit in the state. The global major kicked off the construction of the first phase of its integrated EV hub, which may see Rs 4,000 crore of investment initially and will create more than 10,000 jobs.

Harley, Triumph blaze a trail, give Enfield a tough ride

Harley, Triumph blaze a trail, give Enfield a tough ride

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2024

It has been seven months since the iconic motorcycle manufacturers, Harley-Davidson and Triumph, embarked on their journey in India with the backing of partners Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj Auto. According to data shared by the Indian majors, both brands are already creating ripples in the above 350cc category. The increase in sales has prompted a ramp-up in production and even the doubling of retail touchpoints for one of them.

India's 1st Private Launchpad Preps For Liftoff

India's 1st Private Launchpad Preps For Liftoff

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2024

Preparations are in the final stages by the Chennai-headquartered space-tech startup Agnikul Cosmos for the maiden launch of India's first-ever private launchpad and the second rocket launch by a private sector player.