Shreya Nandi, Sohini Das

Stories by Shreya Nandi, Sohini Das

Under the lens: Regulator moots pre-export govt testing for cough syrup cos

Under the lens: Regulator moots pre-export govt testing for cough syrup cos

Rediff.com   24 May 2023

After reports of contamination in cough syrups sent from the country, India is considering a system to test them before exporting. It is learnt that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has sent a proposal to the Union health ministry on this. The idea is to test the medicines at government labs before exporting.

Drug sales stuck at pre-pandemic level, price rise shapes market growth

Drug sales stuck at pre-pandemic level, price rise shapes market growth

Rediff.com   16 May 2023

Drug sale volumes are almost stuck at pre-pandemic levels but price growth has improved value, data from market research agency Pharmarack AWACS showed. The Indian pharmaceutical market's (IPM) volumes in April 2023 grew by 0.21 per cent when compared to April 2019. Key therapy areas like cardiac, anti-diabetic and vitamins recorded negative volume or consumption growth, while respiratory, anti-infectives, and pain and analgesics had positive growth from April 2019 to April this year.

Govt close to finalising e-commerce policy: DPIIT secy Rajesh Kumar Singh

Govt close to finalising e-commerce policy: DPIIT secy Rajesh Kumar Singh

Rediff.com   12 May 2023

The government is at a "fairly advanced stage" of finalising a well-coordinated e-commerce policy and consumer protection rules, which will incorporate provisions of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said on Thursday. "E-commerce rules and e-commerce policy will be congruent with each other... That exercise is at a fairly advanced stage," Singh told reporters. The remarks come on a day the number of daily transactions on the platform has gone up 500 times since the beginning of this year with the number of retail merchants added to its roster growing 40-fold.

Mahindra and Mahindra gears up for EV play; aims to make 200,000 EVs a year

Mahindra and Mahindra gears up for EV play; aims to make 200,000 EVs a year

Rediff.com   9 May 2023

Analysts have predicted a 23 per cent volume growth for the auto segment between FY22 and FY25, riding on the company's differentiated EV and SUV plan. M&M is already a market leader with a 36 per cent share in electric three-wheelers, and its Zaheerabad plant in Telangana is ready to cater to demand. In the farm segment, the company plans to focus on niche electric products.

Import of key Chinese medical devices rises up to 152% till Dec FY23

Import of key Chinese medical devices rises up to 152% till Dec FY23

Rediff.com   5 May 2023

In the first nine months of financial year 2022-23, India's exports of medical devices have grown by 17 per cent, while imports have declined by around 8 per cent, show the latest data compiled by the Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD). However, import of 30 medical devices from China has risen between 25 per cent and 152 per cent during this period, the AiMeD has written to Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal in March. The AiMeD is an umbrella organisation of medical device makers.

Govt likely to tweak SEZ rules for better land use

Govt likely to tweak SEZ rules for better land use

Rediff.com   4 May 2023

With the fate of the Development Enterprise and Services Hub (DESH) Bill in limbo, the commerce department is working towards tweaking some rules under the existing special economic zone (SEZ) law to allow use of unutilised spaces in IT/ITES for non-SEZ purposes. The move, when implemented, will free-up the land area that is not in demand through partial de-notification of certain floors or buildings, thereby allowing easier exit. "The department of commerce is discussing the matter with the revenue department before making changes in the Special Economic Zone Act, 2005," a person aware of the matter

Can Jaguar Land Rover Meet its EV Target by 2030?

Can Jaguar Land Rover Meet its EV Target by 2030?

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2023

The question is: Will the company have a strong balance sheet to support this massive investment plan?

It's Raining Discounts For Car Buyers

It's Raining Discounts For Car Buyers

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2023

Dealers across brands are slashing prices by Rs 20,000 to over Rs 1 lakh, depending on the car model.

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.

India business to put a spring in pharma's step

India business to put a spring in pharma's step

Rediff.com   26 Apr 2023

Hospitals to recover from sluggish Q3; diagnostics' growth rate at pre-Covid levels.

Why Covishield Production Has Resumed

Why Covishield Production Has Resumed

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2023

'I understand some people are comfortable getting a Covishield shot as their third dose.'

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.

Amid Covid surge, the reality: Fewer vaccination centres

Amid Covid surge, the reality: Fewer vaccination centres

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2023

Serum Institute of India (SII) and Bharat Biotech have also stopped producing the Covishield and Covaxin vaccines respectively.

Hero MotoCorp offers VRS, eyes leaner organisation

Hero MotoCorp offers VRS, eyes leaner organisation

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2023

With a new chief executive officer (CEO) at the helm, the country's largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp is now looking to cut flab and move towards a leaner organisation. It has launched a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for its staff as it aims to make the organisation 'agile and future-ready'. Recently, the company's erstwhile chief financial officer (CFO) Niranjan Gupta was elevated as CEO.

Chip shortage may derail automakers FY24 production plans

Chip shortage may derail automakers FY24 production plans

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2023

Even as India's passenger-vehicle sales touched a record high of 3.9 million units in 2022-23, growing 27 per cent over the previous financial year, the country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), said on Monday uncertainties in the electronic-component supplies might affect production in FY24. MSIL said the shortage of electronic components had some impact on production in FY23. "The company took all possible measures to minimise the impact.

Covid Lockdown: How India Fared

Covid Lockdown: How India Fared

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2023

The March 2020 lockdown did not stop the spread of infection (as it triggered a huge reverse migration from cities), but it did help to flatten the curve and gave time to scale up health infrastructure.

After record sales in FY23, auto companies expect demand to mute

After record sales in FY23, auto companies expect demand to mute

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2023

'In FY23, PV sales are expected to end the year at a record 3.8 million units, up 26 per cent. In FY24, however, the industry is expecting 5-7 per cent volume growth'

Will a fresh wave of Covid-19 hit India?

Will a fresh wave of Covid-19 hit India?

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2023

According to Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman, national Indian Medical Association Covid Task Force, the current scenario qualifies as a wave.

Check Blood Glucose Levels Minus Prick

Check Blood Glucose Levels Minus Prick

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2023

One needs to charge the device every four days, which can provide over 65,000 blood readings and counts.

Auto Industry Sweats As Semiconductor Shortage Persists

Auto Industry Sweats As Semiconductor Shortage Persists

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2023

Open order books in February breach 700,000; wait period for some models exceed a year.