Siddharth Zarabi, New Delhi

Stories by Siddharth Zarabi, New Delhi

Nepal to slap charges against kidney scam kingpin

Nepal to slap charges against kidney scam kingpin

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2008

Nepalese police on Friday decided to slap charges of illegal kidney transplants and foreign currency violations against alleged kingpin Amit Kumar as India wanted him to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation at the earliest.

Trai mulls raising foreign investment cap

Trai mulls raising foreign investment cap

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2008

At present, the FDI limit for FM radio companies is 20 per cent. A senior Trai official has indicated that it could recommend an increase between 26 and 74 per cent.

Telecom sector to see funds bonanza

Telecom sector to see funds bonanza

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2008

India's booming mobile services market will see investments of over Rs 100,000 crore (around $24 billion) by 2010, the fastest investment ramp-up seen in any telecom market globally even as analysts predict a bruising battle that will see tariffs fall sharply.

Used-car prices down ahead of Nano entry

Used-car prices down ahead of Nano entry

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2008

Call it the "Nano effect" but less than a month after Tata Motors displayed its competitively-priced small car at the Delhi auto show, prices in the 1.3-million used-car market crashed 15 to 30 per cent, if not more.

Government mulls another round of export sops

Government mulls another round of export sops

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2008

The measures are part of a package of nine concessions that were suggested by the commerce ministry around eight weeks ago and are awaiting cabinet approval.

Market crash: Banks in damage control mode

Market crash: Banks in damage control mode

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2008

Many banks have begun to work on plans to provide assistance to brokers to ensure they do not default on any payments amid a turbulent stock market, following the finance ministry's unofficial advice to them to explore ways of supporting market players. All the actions would be initiated within the prudential framework like adhering to the limit on capital market exposure, said a top executive of another PSB.

NDTV set to launch global film channel

NDTV set to launch global film channel

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2008

Alliance Lumiere, owned by NDTV Imagine, the entertainment company of NDTV, is all set to launch an international film channel. The films will be distributed in India and abroad. They will also be marketed through DVDs and VCDs for private viewing.

Wipro to sell message via Mario toons

Wipro to sell message via Mario toons

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2008

Bangalore-based software giant has teamed up with eminent cartoonist Mario Miranda to create an advertising campaign that will light up its recruitment brand. The Goa-based cartoonist will educate potential recruits about Wipro through his characters.

Small cars have big potential: Survey

Small cars have big potential: Survey

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2008

The Nano price point would see a 65 per cent increase in the number of families that can afford a car.

What India Inc is lobbying for in Budget 2008

What India Inc is lobbying for in Budget 2008

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2008

Industry representatives recommended that the basic annual exemption limit for individuals should be raised to Rs 1,50,000 from Rs 1,10,000 and the peak income tax rate be cut to 25 per cent, from 30 per cent at present.

Blackstone scales down investment in Ushodaya

Blackstone scales down investment in Ushodaya

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2008

Reworks proposal submitted to Foreign Investment Promotion Board.

Many firsts in FM's pre-Budget parleys

Many firsts in FM's pre-Budget parleys

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2008

Chidambaram to meet ministries' financial advisors, PM's economic council.

LN Mittal's meet with PM stokes market interest

LN Mittal's meet with PM stokes market interest

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2007

India-born steel magnate LN Mittal met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on December 8 to discuss his plans in the oil and gas sector in India. The meeting has led to reports that Mittal is interested in taking over Cairn India's assets, which includes prospective oil discovery in Rajasthan.

Budget to focus on compliance

Budget to focus on compliance

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2007

Compliance levels in India have improved significantly over the past few years with 85 per cent of the country's 31.9 million tax payers filing income tax returns in 2006-07. But this is still below the near-100 per cent compliance levels in developed countries.

Eli Lilly drug patent deflated

Eli Lilly drug patent deflated

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2007

In another setback to Big Pharma, US drug major Eli Lilly's blockbuster erectile dysfunction drug Cialis (generic name:Tadalafil) has failed to qualify for a product patent in India after the basic constituent of the medicine was found to be a known substance, developed and patented by Indian scientists 32 years ago.

Power: Bonds up to Rs 50,000 may be tax-free

Power: Bonds up to Rs 50,000 may be tax-free

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2007

With an eye on channelising domestic savings into the power sector, the finance ministry is considering granting income-tax exemptions for individual investments up to Rs 50,000 in power infrastructure bonds.

I-T dept mulls capital tax on property deals

I-T dept mulls capital tax on property deals

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2007

The suggestion is to introduce a "capital transaction tax" based on the "circle rate" of the state in which the deal is registered.

I-T exemption may be raised in Budget

I-T exemption may be raised in Budget

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2007

Rising compliance, buoyant collections may prompt this move

Now, get ready for the 'one-person company'

Now, get ready for the 'one-person company'

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2007

This will be a measure to provide start-up entrepreneurs and professionals the much-needed flexibility in setting up a business in India.

Retire at 62, counter pension liability

Retire at 62, counter pension liability

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2007

If implemented, the central government's proposal to hike the age of retirement of its employees from 60 to 62 will defer by two years its pension liabilities of around Rs 14,749 crore (Rs 147.49 billion), according to the Invest India Economic Foundation (IIEF).