Siddharth Zarabi &Amp; Shuchi Bansal

Stories by Siddharth Zarabi &Amp; Shuchi Bansal

Bharti, UB to bid for Delhi, Mumbai, B'lore teams

Bharti, UB to bid for Delhi, Mumbai, B'lore teams

Rediff.com   13 Nov 2007

Bharti Airtel and United Breweries have expressed interest in acquiring, respectively, the Delhi and Bangalore or Mumbai teams in the impending Indian Premier League for Twenty20 cricket matches.

Auction VSNL land bank: DoT

Auction VSNL land bank: DoT

Rediff.com   5 Nov 2007

The view follows a detailed review of the matter by DoT since March this year, after Dayanidhi Maran, then communications minister, asked officials to provide details about the possibility of the Tata-owned VSNL being allowed to retain the land. This latest recommendation, made in September, comes despite the fact that the Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs had, in December 2005, approved hiving off the land bank into a separate company.

Comexes, credit info cos may see FDI

Comexes, credit info cos may see FDI

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2007

Some new sectors in which the commerce ministry has proposed to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) are credit information companies and commodity exchanges. The ministry is in favour of allowing up to 49 per cent FDI proposed in both these sectors. In proposing to open up the commodity sector, the ministry has said that FII investment be limited to 24 per cent, with a condition that a foreign investor cannot hold more than 10 per cent equity in the investing companies

'Be prepared for Rs 38 a dollar'

'Be prepared for Rs 38 a dollar'

Rediff.com   31 Oct 2007

As foreign fund flows have lifted the rupee to record highs against the dollar, the commerce ministry has started telling exporters to prepare for the Indian currency rising further to 38 against the dollar by December. The strong rupee is already hurting India's exporters, with companies cutting jobs and scaling back expansions. A further appreciation may have even worse consequences for sectors like textile, infotech and automobile.

Prepare for stronger Re: Commerce ministry

Prepare for stronger Re: Commerce ministry

Rediff.com   30 Oct 2007

Even as record foreign fund flows lifted the rupee to 39.43 against the US dollar today, the highest since 1999, the commerce ministry has started telling exporters to prepare for the rupee rising even further to 38 against the US dollar by December. The strong rupee is already hurting India's exporters, with companies cutting jobs and scaling back expansion. A further appreciation may have even worse consequences for sectors like textiles, infotech and automobiles.

The new face of Hyundai India

The new face of Hyundai India

Rediff.com   27 Oct 2007

Ashok Kumar Jha will step into a role that BVR Subbu, a powerful and seasoned corporate campaigner, had demitted over a year ago.

Get a piece of sunny Florida, for $1 mn

Get a piece of sunny Florida, for $1 mn

Rediff.com   22 Oct 2007

A US resident has advertised to sell land in that country to Indians here. In the process, the seller may have started a trend of US owners turning to overseas buyers as local demand for housing dries up following the serial bankruptcies from the sub-prime mortgage, or high-risk home loan, crisis.

Parsvnath's mobile plan hits roadblock

Parsvnath's mobile plan hits roadblock

Rediff.com   20 Oct 2007

Real estate firm Parsvnath Developers' quest for a mobile licence seems to have hit a roadblock at the Department of Telecom (DoT). Parsvnath, which is one of the seven realty firms in the fray for mobile licences, hasn't mentioned the business of "telecommunications" in its memorandum of association (MoA).

Good news for govt staff, salaries to rise

Good news for govt staff, salaries to rise

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2007

The Sixth Pay Commission is likely to significantly raise basic salaries for an estimated 4.5 million central government employees. The recommendations are expected to be submitted in January, a few months ahead of schedule, and the award is likely to come into effect from January 2006.

How a doctor plans to set up a hospital chain

How a doctor plans to set up a hospital chain

Rediff.com   16 Oct 2007

Umkal plans to set up 10 more hospitals in and around Gurgaon.

New mobile licence: Who are in the lead?

New mobile licence: Who are in the lead?

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2007

Going by application dates, companies like Spice, Birla-promoted Idea Cellular, Reliance Communications (through Swan and Cheetah) and Hindustan Futuristic are in the lead for licences in different circles. The only new player in the list is the little-known ByCell.Several incumbents like Idea Cellular, Maxis-Aircell, owned by a Malaysian promoter, and Vodafone-Essar lead the list of applicants for initial spectrum allocation since they already hold licences.

Pitroda among telecom licence applicants

Pitroda among telecom licence applicants

Rediff.com   10 Oct 2007

The rush to enter the world's fastest-growing mobile services market has attracted a wide range of applicants for telecom licences with the Department of Telecommunications.

Private telecom players, govt on war path

Private telecom players, govt on war path

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2007

It was discovered that state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited was given additional spectrum of up to 10 MHz for GSM technology services in over 16 circles even as private competitors have been waiting to be allotted spectrum by the DoT.

BSNL gets spectrum, private telcos cry foul

BSNL gets spectrum, private telcos cry foul

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2007

Tensions between private telecom players and the government ratcheted up a notch after it was discovered that state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd was given additional spectrum of up to 10 MHz for GSM technology services in over 16 circles even as private competitors have been waiting to be allotted spectrum by the Department of Telecommunications since December 2006.

How FM stations are making profits

How FM stations are making profits

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2007

Suddenly, brand activation is big business for India's Rs 300 crore (Rs 3 billion) FM radio industry.

Subhash Chandra's risky gamble

Subhash Chandra's risky gamble

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2007

Subhash Chandra making headlines is no longer news. For some years now it has been for his no-holds-barred feud with the Board for Control of Cricket in India.

Populist plans put <i>Aam aadmi</i> on centrestage

Populist plans put Aam aadmi on centrestage

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2007

Govt puts populist schemes on fast track.

More rural mobiles than fixed-line

More rural mobiles than fixed-line

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2007

It is not the urban centres alone that are powering India's phenomenal growth in mobile telephony. Data on rural telephony, compiled by the telecom regulator, shows people in villages are subscribing to mobile services in large numbers

Interview with TraI chief Nripendra Misra

Interview with TraI chief Nripendra Misra

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2007

The telecom regulator explains how he's hobbled by government policy and clarifies some parts of his latest recommendations.

Govt mulls relaxation in indirect FDI norms

Govt mulls relaxation in indirect FDI norms

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2007

Move to impact joint ventures in telecom, insurance, broadcasting.