Shreya Nandi &Amp; Peerzada Abrar

Stories by Shreya Nandi &Amp; Peerzada Abrar

India's trade deficit with Russia grows seven-fold to $34.79 billion

India's trade deficit with Russia grows seven-fold to $34.79 billion

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2023

The rising dependence on discounted crude oil has resulted in India's trade deficit with Russia hitting the second-highest place last year, after China, reveals Department of Commerce data. From April through January 2022-23 (FY23), India's maximum trade deficit was with China, at $71.58 billion. This was followed by Russia, where the deficit expanded sevenfold - from $4.86 billion in April-January of 2021-22 (FY22) to $34.79 billion during the same period in FY23.

Zomato tells BSE most Blinkit stores have reopened after wage protests

Zomato tells BSE most Blinkit stores have reopened after wage protests

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2023

Food delivery firm Zomato Ltd said on Wednesday most stores of its grocery unit Blinkit had resumed operations after being shut following protests by delivery partners. "Over the last few days we have made changes in the delivery partner payout structure with respect to the Blinkit business to address the needs of delivery partners, improve customer experience and reduce cancellation/ order rejection frauds by few delivery partners in the system. "Such changes are done from time to time, as needed," said the company in a letter to the BSE.

What Are PhonePe's Expansion Plans?

What Are PhonePe's Expansion Plans?

Rediff.com   17 Apr 2023

'We want to achieve overall profitability, and then we would go for an IPO.'

E-commerce companies on ONDC may pay the price for non-compliance

E-commerce companies on ONDC may pay the price for non-compliance

Rediff.com   14 Apr 2023

The government will develop a mechanism to ensure that e-commerce companies and entities that have adopted Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) architecture are compliant with the rules. Non-compliance may result in a penalty. "We will have our own evaluation system, and if we find any player is not sticking to it, then we will take action. "Participants will have to be compliant with the rule of the land," Sanjiv, joint secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), told reporters on Thursday.

Foxconn Deal: Karnataka Labour Laws In Focus, Tamil Nadu May Follow

Foxconn Deal: Karnataka Labour Laws In Focus, Tamil Nadu May Follow

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2023

Allowing 12-hour shifts for all and night-time work for women was meant to benefit software firms, but is said to have clinched Foxconn's Rs 80 billion investment.

Walmart-owned PhonePe calls off deal to acquire fintech startup ZestMoney

Walmart-owned PhonePe calls off deal to acquire fintech startup ZestMoney

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2023

Walmart-owned digital payments firm PhonePe has decided to halt its proposed acquisition of Goldman Sachs- and Xiaomi-backed ZestMoney, a Bengaluru-based buy now, pay later (BNPL) platform. The deal, which was poised to fetch anywhere between $150-200 million and $300 million, has hit a snag over lapses in due diligence, disagreements over valuation, sustainability of the business, and shareholding structure of ZestMoney, according to people familiar with the matter. The collapse of the deal is also being attributed to a slowdown in the financial technology (fintech) sector in the midst of a funding winter, difficult regulatory environment, and macroeconomic uncertainty, informed other sources.

SVB crisis: Start-ups seek govt's help to bring money to India

SVB crisis: Start-ups seek govt's help to bring money to India

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2023

Indian start-ups raised issues, such as blockages in international wire transfers, disruptions due to threshold limits on withdrawals, lack of communication from US agencies, and the need for preferential access to credit, in a meeting with the government over the fallout of Silicon Valley Bank's collapse. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, minister of state for electronics and information technology, held a virtual meeting with over 450 members from start-ups, venture capitalists, and investors who have been directly affected by the closure of SVB. He assured them that the IT ministry would put together a list of suggestions and give it to the finance minister on behalf of start-ups.

SVB fallout: Indian start-ups staring at uncertain future

SVB fallout: Indian start-ups staring at uncertain future

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2023

Indian start-ups breathed a sigh of relief after the UK government facilitated the acquisition of the now-defunct Silicon Valley Bank's (SVB's) British arm by HSBC. In a bid to allay fears, the US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FIDC) announced recently that it had transferred all deposits of start-up-focused SVB to a newly created bridge bank and all depositors would have access to their money. President Joe Biden also sought to reassure jittery depositors that they can have confidence that the US banking system is "safe".

20-min pizza promise by Domino's gets stuck in traffic, kitchen

20-min pizza promise by Domino's gets stuck in traffic, kitchen

Rediff.com   8 Mar 2023

As promised, Domino's 20-minute delivery started across 170 stores in Bengaluru on Tuesday. But, as the day progressed, some teething issues came to the fore. If delivery partners' accounts are anything to go by, these are unlikely to go away anytime soon.

NITI Aayog's Dynamic New CEO

NITI Aayog's Dynamic New CEO

Rediff.com   7 Mar 2023

Go-getter, ambitious, dynamic, workaholic are some of the adjectives that officials who worked closely with B V R Subrahmanyam use to describe him.

Rebel Foods to run Wendy's restaurants

Rebel Foods to run Wendy's restaurants

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2023

Rebel Foods, the world's largest internet restaurant company, has entered into a deal with American burger giant Wendy's to run its restaurants in India. The partnership includes committing to the development of traditional restaurants and building on their existing development agreement for cloud kitchens. In this expanded, new franchise commitment, Rebel will help the brand grow its restaurant model in India with digital expertise in delivery, automation, and innovation.

Low demand for goods from China, others sinks imports

Low demand for goods from China, others sinks imports

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2023

A decline in demand from six of India's top 10 import partners -- China, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, South Korea, Australia, and Singapore -- resulted in India's imports hitting a 17-month low of $50.6 billion in January, showed the data compiled by the department of commerce. Shipments from South Korea, Australia, and Singapore declined by 14.1 per cent, 26.7 per cent, and 9.8 per cent, respectively. Among the 10, growth in inbound shipment was seen only in the case of the United Arab Emirates (12.1 per cent), the US (27.4 per cent), Russia (297.4 per cent), and Indonesia (22.9 per cent).

Tata Motors bags India's largest electric vehicle fleet order from Uber

Tata Motors bags India's largest electric vehicle fleet order from Uber

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2023

Tata Motors, India's largest electric passenger vehicle manufacturer, has signed an agreement with ride-hailing company Uber to supply 25,000 electric vehicles (EVs), the company said. The agreement is the largest EV commitment between an automotive manufacturer and a ride-sharing platform in India. Under the agreement, Uber will deploy Tata Motors' XPRES-T EVs by partnering fleet operators in Delhi National Capital Region, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad.

Tata Motors bags largest EV fleet order from Uber

Tata Motors bags largest EV fleet order from Uber

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2023

Tata Motors, India's largest electric passenger vehicle manufacturer, has signed an agreement with ride-hailing company Uber to supply 25,000 electric vehicles (EVs), the company said. The agreement is the largest EV commitment between an automotive manufacturer and a ride-sharing platform in India. Under the agreement, Uber will deploy Tata Motors' XPRES-T EVs by partnering fleet operators in Delhi National Capital Region, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad.

Apply for Maharashtra licence in 3 weeks, SC tells Uber

Apply for Maharashtra licence in 3 weeks, SC tells Uber

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2023

The Supreme Court on Monday directed Uber to apply for a licence within three weeks to operate in Maharashtra, stressing that cab aggregators cannot function without one. A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud said that an earlier interim order by the Supreme Court that had allowed Uber to operate in the state would not provide legal cover, since an aggregator cannot operate without a licence. It ordered Uber to apply for a licence by March 6, said a report by Bar and Bench.

Ola unveils 5 electric motorcycles, launch planned next year

Ola unveils 5 electric motorcycles, launch planned next year

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2023

Ola Electric on Thursday teased five new electric motorcycles that the SoftBank-backed company is working on, announcing the range after selling electric scooters. The products are labelled cafe racer, an adventure tourer, a scrambler and a naked motorcycle. The motorcycles are expected to be launched next year and would include premium and mass-market versions, said sources.

PhonePe first Indian fintech player to allow UPI payments abroad

PhonePe first Indian fintech player to allow UPI payments abroad

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2023

PhonePe said on Tuesday it has launched a service that will allow the fintech firm's Indian users traveling abroad to pay foreign merchants using Unified Payments Interface (UPI). 'UPI international' supports merchant outlets in UAE, Singapore, Mauritius, Nepal and Bhutan that have a local QR (quick response) code. Users will be able to make direct payments in a foreign currency from their Indian bank, like they do with international debit cards.

US taking steps to facilitate business visas in India

US taking steps to facilitate business visas in India

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2023

The US is taking several measures, such as increasing the number of staffers, to further facilitate the issuance of business visas in India, a senior US government official said on Tuesday. "We have also made significant progress by issuing more H1B and L visas in 2022 than we did even in 2019 before the pandemic. "This is a significant improvement. We are in the process of raising our staff," Arun Venkataraman, US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for global markets, said.

Covid fears in China may have cascading impact on India's exports, imports

Covid fears in China may have cascading impact on India's exports, imports

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2022

The importance of China as India's top trading partner cannot be understated.

India exported goods worth $280 mn to Russia in Oct, up 3.7%

India exported goods worth $280 mn to Russia in Oct, up 3.7%

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2022

As sanctions-hit Russia increasingly relies on consumer products from India, outbound shipments to Russia have started picking up for the second consecutive month in October. This comes after it witnessed contraction for six consecutive months starting March, commerce and industry ministry data showed. During October, India exported goods worth $280 million, up 3.7 per cent as compared to a year ago. It was led by demand for items such as vegetables, tea, coffee, chemicals as well as iron and steel products.