Shiva Rajora, Ruchika Chitravanshi

Stories by Shiva Rajora, Ruchika Chitravanshi

'Living Standards For Indians Will Rise Steeply'

'Living Standards For Indians Will Rise Steeply'

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2024

'It took us 75 years to reach a per capita income of $2,730.' 'According to IMF projections, it will take only five years to add another $2,000.'

New Gold Bonds Depend On Market Conditions

New Gold Bonds Depend On Market Conditions

Rediff.com   28 Sep 2024

The government does not seem keen on issuing fresh gold bonds given the overall cost and rising gold prices.

Centre Wants Stalin To End Samsung Strike

Centre Wants Stalin To End Samsung Strike

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2024

Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya urges state government 'to intervene for an early and amicable resolution for maintaining a positive manufacturing sector ecosystem'.

Number of people averse to govt surveys rises over 2x in 5 yrs

Number of people averse to govt surveys rises over 2x in 5 yrs

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2024

The number of people averse to the surveys by the National Statistical Office (NSO) has more than doubled over the last five years between the 75th National Sample Survey (NSS) round (July 2017- June 2018) and the 79th NSS round (July 2022-June 2023), the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation MoSPI) said on Friday in a conference organised to discuss the issue of 'non- responsiveness' to its sample surveys. The ministry said that nearly 6.9 per cent people in urban areas surveyed by the NSO for the 79th NSS round did not participate in the exercise, while the number of people in rural India that refused to participate in these surveys stood at 3.9 per cent.

In a first, govt to conduct yearly private capex survey from October

In a first, govt to conduct yearly private capex survey from October

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2024

At a time when the government is nudging the private sector to ramp up its capital expenditure (capex), the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is poised to kick-start the first-of-its-kind annual survey on the status of private sector capex from next month. "The inaugural edition of the annual exercise will start in October and will be completed by December. "The results will be made public by February next year," said Geeta Singh Rathore, director general, National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), at a data users' conference on Thursday.

Govt dissolves Pronab Sen-led panel on statistics, cites 'overlap' in work

Govt dissolves Pronab Sen-led panel on statistics, cites 'overlap' in work

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2024

With the dissolution of former chief statistician Pronab Sen-led Standing Committee on Statistics (SCoS) by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the National Statistical Commission (NSC) has regained prominence as the primary statistical body to address issues regarding results, methodology and questionnaire, among others. A MoSPI official in an email informed the 16-member SCoS about the decision to dissolve it, citing that its work was "overlapping" with that of the Steering Committee for National Sample Surveys (NSS), which was set up in June this year.

Kirana vs Q-com on table

Kirana vs Q-com on table

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2024

The government is set to examine concerns over quick commerce companies potentially undermining businesses of local kirana stores, particularly in the context of the draft Digital Competition Bill, according to official sources. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs recently raised the issue with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs during discussions around the proposed legislation. "We need to assess if and how the Bill can address these concerns and explore further steps to include provisions to keep a check," a senior official stated.

Financial regulators back ISA 600 for auditors of listed companies

Financial regulators back ISA 600 for auditors of listed companies

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2024

The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) will invite public comments on the revised International Standard on Auditing 600 (ISA 600) proposed to be adopted by publicly listed companies and non-public-sector banks, sources close to the development told Business Standard. The decision to take this "graded approach" for the adoption of the ISA, which is meant to rein in auditors often found hiding behind the audit reports signed off by subsidiary companies, was taken at a meeting of various financial sector regulators at NFRA's board meeting on Monday (August 26). The idea behind upgrading the Standards of Audit 600 currently followed by Indian auditors to ISA 600 is to plug current gaps, which have led to major audit lapses in the recent past.

'Workplace safety key to get more women in labour force'

'Workplace safety key to get more women in labour force'

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2024

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Deputy Managing Director (MD) Gita Gopinath has condemned the "terrible and disturbing" incident of rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. "Personally, it is terrible to have any event of this kind. It is disturbing," she told Business Standard in New Delhi.

EPFO will migrate to new IT platform in 3 months: Labour minister

EPFO will migrate to new IT platform in 3 months: Labour minister

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2024

Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will migrate to a new information technology (IT) system within the next three months, Union labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday. In July last year, a clutch of officers at the retirement fund body had written a letter to the Central government complaining about archaic and "collapsing" software systems. Subscribers too were facing problems due to it.

Cross-border share swaps eased by govt

Cross-border share swaps eased by govt

Rediff.com   19 Aug 2024

The Union Finance Ministry on Friday announced key amendments to foreign exchange (forex) regulations, including mandating government approvals for all investments originating from countries that share land borders with India. The latest amendments also seek to simplify cross-border share swaps and streamline key definitions, such as "control". The updated regulations have aligned the treatment of downstream investments made by overseas citizen of India (OCI)-owned entities with those owned by non-resident Indians (NRIs) on a non-repatriation basis.

Urban unemployment declines to 6.6% in Q1

Urban unemployment declines to 6.6% in Q1

Rediff.com   19 Aug 2024

Employment in urban areas in the first quarter of 2024-25 (FY25) improved over the previous one. The unemployment rate in April-June (Q1) declined to 6.6 per cent from a four-quarter high of 6.7 per cent in January-March FY24 owing to the fall in the male unemployment rate, according to the quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Friday.

Women Outnumbered In Bank Accounts!

Women Outnumbered In Bank Accounts!

Rediff.com   17 Aug 2024

As of March 2023, the share of accounts belonging to women stood at 36.4 per cent (917.7 million) of the total 2.52 billion individual accounts.

'Industry Has To Help Us'

'Industry Has To Help Us'

Rediff.com   16 Aug 2024

'There will be 200 ITIs developed as hubs, while 800 will be developed as spoke, connected with five National Skill Training Institutes.'

8th Eco Census likely next year; data for 7th awaited

8th Eco Census likely next year; data for 7th awaited

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2024

The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (Mospi) has started preparations for the eighth Economic Census (EC), which is expected to be formally launched next year, sources told Business Standard, even as the results of the seventh edition are yet to be made public. "Centre has asked states and Union Territories (UTs) to submit requirements for funds and manpower in a bid to start work on the eighth EC. "The states and UTs are required to set up a dedicated unit to conduct the exercise.

Nirmalaji Wants To Bring Taxes To Nil But...

Nirmalaji Wants To Bring Taxes To Nil But...

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2024

'... there are challenges to overcome and the country needs money for that.'

What Modi May Say In I-Day Address

What Modi May Say In I-Day Address

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2024

'Given our turbulent neighbourhood, the prime minister is likely to emphasise on democratic dividend as the reason behind India's continuous prosperity.'

What Centre Will Shell Out For AP, Bihar

What Centre Will Shell Out For AP, Bihar

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2024

While Andhra Pradesh is expected to receive Rs 15,000 crore to Rs 20,000 crore, Bihar is likely to get Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 10,000 crore in FY25.

'Jobs Have To Be Created Everywhere'

'Jobs Have To Be Created Everywhere'

Rediff.com   25 Jul 2024

'I found it unbelievable that L&T said 45,000 jobs were waiting to be filled because of unavailability of suitable skillsets.' 'So, when the Opposition sweepingly says there are no jobs, I'm sorry... I'm not saying it's raining jobs, but there are jobs. The (skill) gap has to be bridged.'

Budget 2024: FM exhorts states to take up next-gen reforms agenda

Budget 2024: FM exhorts states to take up next-gen reforms agenda

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2024

In her Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday underlined the need for collaboration between the Centre and states to take up the next-generation reforms covering land, labour, capital and entrepreneurship. As far as revenue share goes, the government has projected to give about 32.5 per cent of central taxes to states during FY25, against the 15th Finance Commission's recommendation of 41 per cent, according to the Union Budget estimate.