Shiva Rajora, Ruchika Chitravanshi

Stories by Shiva Rajora, Ruchika Chitravanshi

Will Raebareli Also Go The Amethi Way?

Will Raebareli Also Go The Amethi Way?

Rediff.com   16 May 2024

'Sonia did not visit this place once since she won. Who's to say they won't lose this one, too?'

Amethi Misses Rahul Vs Smriti Contest

Amethi Misses Rahul Vs Smriti Contest

Rediff.com   14 May 2024

'If the Congress loses this time, Rahul Gandhi will not look back at Amethi ever again.'

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%.

Getting future-ready: Govt may tweak IBC to factor in climate change

Getting future-ready: Govt may tweak IBC to factor in climate change

Rediff.com   7 May 2024

The government is contemplating changes to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) to deal with environmental claims and liabilities of defaulting companies to make the law future-ready and meet climate action goals, sources told Business Standard. Currently, the IBC has various categories of claims and creditors, including those related to environmental liabilities.

Above-normal monsoon likely to ease food prices: FinMin

Above-normal monsoon likely to ease food prices: FinMin

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2024

With the prediction of an above normal monsoon in 2024, the government is expecting food prices to come down, the finance ministry's monthly economic report for March has said. The report, released on Thursday, said robust foreign inflows and comfortable trade deficits were expected to keep the rupee within a comfortable range. "Further easing of food prices is on the anvil as IMD (India Meteorological Department) has predicted above-normal rainfall during the monsoon season, which is likely to lead to higher production, assuming good spatial and temporal distribution of the rainfall," the monthly report, released by the Department of Economic Affairs, said.

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.

Centre in a huddle to understand impact of the Iran-Israel tensions

Centre in a huddle to understand impact of the Iran-Israel tensions

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2024

Top government officials in New Delhi have started discussions with stakeholders ranging from shipping and container companies to export promotion councils to understand the impact of the Iran-Israel tensions and plan ahead. Inter-ministerial talks are also being lined up amid the crisis situation in West Asia, sources confirmed. While the crude flows are not directly under any threat, elevated oil prices remain a concern, according to officials.

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.

Centre Plans To Raise Rs 7.5 Trillion...

Centre Plans To Raise Rs 7.5 Trillion...

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2024

...to fund the revenue gap. Of the gross market borrowing of Rs 14.13 trillion estimated for FY25, Rs 7.5 trillion, or 53 per cent, is planned to be borrowed in the first half.

Summer sowing may ease inflation: FinMin

Summer sowing may ease inflation: FinMin

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2024

The finance ministry expects a broad-based moderation in inflationary pressures on the back of an anticipated reduction in food prices as a result of the uptick in summer sowing. The retail inflation rate remained stubbornly clung to the 5 per cent mark in seven of the past eight months. "Core inflation is trending downwards, indicating a broad-based moderation in price pressures... Driven by strong domestic growth and benign global commodity prices, core inflation is declining continuously.

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.

Work Begins On The Full Budget

Work Begins On The Full Budget

Rediff.com   26 Mar 2024

Thrust on infrastructure and capital expenditure is expected to continue in the Union Budget for FY25.

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.

Uniform KYC Norms On The Cards

Uniform KYC Norms On The Cards

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2024

'The committee has been constituted. Different government departments and FSDC members are part of it.'

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).

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.

In a huge relief to homebuyers, allotted houses to stay out of liquidation

In a huge relief to homebuyers, allotted houses to stay out of liquidation

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2024

In a relief to homebuyers, assets in a real estate project that have been handed over to the allottee would be kept out of the liquidation process of the company, the latest amendment to the rules by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has said. The notification dated February 12 said: "For the purposes of clause (e) of sub-section (4) of section 36, wherever the corporate debtor has given possession to an allottee in a real estate project, such asset shall not form a part of the liquidation estate of the corporate debtor." Real estate experts call it a "pragmatic approach" by the regulator. "However, there are many cases where possession has not been given because the property is stuck in insolvency.

Digital Competition Bill Wants Interoperability

Digital Competition Bill Wants Interoperability

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2024

It is being suggested that apps, such as WhatsApp and Telegram, should share their APIs with each other to ensure there is interoperability, just as it exists across email services.

'Tax buoyancy can't continue year after year'

'Tax buoyancy can't continue year after year'

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2024

'The revenue projection arises out of all sectors doing well and the formalisation of the economy helps in making sure the tax domain gets widened.'

ED to probe Fema breach in Paytm bank case

ED to probe Fema breach in Paytm bank case

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2024

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has launched a preliminary investigation or a pre-open inquiry into alleged violations related to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema) in the Paytm Payments Bank case, according to sources in the know. The probe follows serious concerns raised by the Reserve Bank of India on multiple violations by the Paytm bank, which is a joint venture between One97 Communications, which is the parent company of Paytm, and the group's founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma.