Sohini Das And Shrimi Choudhary

Stories by Sohini Das And Shrimi Choudhary

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.

IDBI Bank financial bids expected by June

IDBI Bank financial bids expected by June

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2023

The government and Life Insurance Corporation's (LIC's) strategic stake sale in IDBI Bank is expected to move to the second stage by the first quarter of FY24, said two people in the know. They added that considering the progress of the ongoing deal, financial bids are expected to come in by June this year. The proposed IDBI Bank stake sale is divided into two sequential stages.

GST rate rationalisation unlikely before 2024 Lok Sabha elections

GST rate rationalisation unlikely before 2024 Lok Sabha elections

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2023

Overhaul of the goods and services tax (GST) structure, including possible changes in the tax slabs, may now be taken up only after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, given the number of states that are going to the polls in its run-up. "No major overhaul of tax rates is expected in GST until the end of next fiscal year. One major reason for this is that some members of the group of ministers (GoM) - mandated to look at rate rationalisation by the GST Council - are from poll-bound states. Later, this may lead to reconstitution of the panel," a senior government official told Business Standard. Besides, both the Centre and states are not in favour of frequent changes in the tax rates amid inflationary uncertainties; they believe any major change should be brought in after extensive deliberations, according to the official.

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.

Did Mumbai Pay Rs 5 Trillion In Taxes?

Did Mumbai Pay Rs 5 Trillion In Taxes?

Rediff.com   3 Apr 2023

Mumbai, which adds 37 per cent to the total direct tax mop-up, has reported tax collection of Rs 4.93 trillion so far, against the full-year target of Rs 5.35 trillion.

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.

Why I-T Department Selected 68,000 Cases

Why I-T Department Selected 68,000 Cases

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2023

Transactions were allegedly not reported correctly in the tax returns for FY20.

Adani-Hindenburg saga: Over 12 entities involved in short-selling under Sebi lens

Adani-Hindenburg saga: Over 12 entities involved in short-selling under Sebi lens

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2023

More than a dozen entities, both domestic and foreign, had come under the regulatory glare over alleged short-selling before and after the publication of the Hindenburg research report against Adani Group, two people familiar with the development said. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), which is examining the rise in stock values of Adani Group in the past few years, is also scrutinising the trade data and trade pattern of these entities allegedly involved in short-selling and made significant profit. Enquiries in the trade pattern of these entities reflected a profit of over Rs 30,000 crore, pre- and post-Hindenburg saga, said one of the two people.

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.

Maruti Sold 584,126 Cars In Rural Markets

Maruti Sold 584,126 Cars In Rural Markets

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2023

Maruti Suzuki says it has sold at least one car in 418,000 villages.

GST Authority Summon Insurance Intermediaries

GST Authority Summon Insurance Intermediaries

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2023

At least 120 insurance intermediaries and aggregators from across the country are under scrutiny, mainly from Mumbai, Gurugram and Bengaluru.

Why electric two-wheelers missed the ambitious 1 million sales target

Why electric two-wheelers missed the ambitious 1 million sales target

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2023

With just a month left in this financial year, electric two-wheeler sales, so far, are at just 62 per cent of the ambitious target of 1 million units set for 2022-23 by the NITI Aayog. According to VAHAN data, compiled by the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), 620,006 units of electric two-wheelers were sold across the country in FY23 until February 21. Though the industry may miss the 1-million target, sales in FY23 are already up 146 per cent from 249,621 units sold in FY22.

'LIC keeps investing in companies...'

'LIC keeps investing in companies...'

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2023

'In equities, it has diversified portfolios.' 'So the short-term movement of individual stocks does not impact them.'

With 33% market share, Maruti eyes top slot in SUV space by FY24

With 33% market share, Maruti eyes top slot in SUV space by FY24

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2023

Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) - the market leader in small cars - is eyeing the top spot in the sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment within a year - with a 33 per cent share of the pie. The company has been selling two SUVs - the Brezza and the Grand Vitara - and will start deliveries of the Jimny and the Fronx from March-end, and has set a target of growing its share from the current 11.5 per cent of the SUV market to 33 per cent by the end of 2023-24. The SUV segment is roughly about 42 per cent of the total passenger vehicle market, or around 1.3 million units.

'More than a majority will shift to new tax regime'

'More than a majority will shift to new tax regime'

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2023

'I believe the modified scheme is much more beneficial and simpler.'

'A creative mind never ages'

'A creative mind never ages'

Rediff.com   26 Jan 2023

Balkrishna V Doshi, who won the Pritzker Award in 2018 -- which is equivalent to the Nobel Prize in architecture -- passed into the ages this week. Sohini Das recalls an encounter with the the legendary architect, who was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan in this year's Republic Day honours list.