Sohini Das, Anjali Singh, Aneeka Chatterjee, Nitin Kumar, Surajeet Das Gupta

Stories by Sohini Das, Anjali Singh, Aneeka Chatterjee, Nitin Kumar, Surajeet Das Gupta

In a huge relief to homebuyers, allotted houses to stay out of liquidation

In a huge relief to homebuyers, allotted houses to stay out of liquidation

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2024

In a relief to homebuyers, assets in a real estate project that have been handed over to the allottee would be kept out of the liquidation process of the company, the latest amendment to the rules by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has said. The notification dated February 12 said: "For the purposes of clause (e) of sub-section (4) of section 36, wherever the corporate debtor has given possession to an allottee in a real estate project, such asset shall not form a part of the liquidation estate of the corporate debtor." Real estate experts call it a "pragmatic approach" by the regulator. "However, there are many cases where possession has not been given because the property is stuck in insolvency.

Air India, TASL to invest Rs 2,300 crore in Karnataka

Air India, TASL to invest Rs 2,300 crore in Karnataka

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2024

Air India and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL), a player in aerospace and defence solutions, on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Karnataka government for an investment of ~2,300 crore in the state's aerospace and defence sector. The strategic move is expected to enhance Karnataka's aerospace ecosystem and help create over 1,600 direct and 25,000 indirect jobs in the state.

Finnish firm HMD Global unveils strategy to recover lost ground

Finnish firm HMD Global unveils strategy to recover lost ground

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2024

Can the launch of smartphones under its own brand name by Finnish company HMD Global - despite having a licence to use the Nokia brand which it bought from Microsoft - help it regain its once dominant position in the mobile phone sweepstakes in India, where it was once routed? In 2009, Nokia was the country's largest MNC with revenues of $4 billion and a market share touching 80 per cent in 2010. After this, its fortunes fell. Although it had been the first global player to set up an assembly plant, not only to assemble phones for the local market but for exports, it had to shut down operations in 2014.

Mine bidders to face penalties for delays; Centre proposes timelines

Mine bidders to face penalties for delays; Centre proposes timelines

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2024

To expedite mining activities in the country and address shortcomings in the mine auction process, the Centre has proposed the introduction of intermediary timelines for acquiring mining leases and composite licences. The government has outlined timelines for various activities involved in the process, accompanied by penalties for delays attributable to the bidder. According to the Ministry of Mines notification dated February 9, the penalty for surpassing specified timelines in any activity within a milestone would lead to deductions from the performance security deposited by the bidder.

Hybrid Vehicles May Race Ahead

Hybrid Vehicles May Race Ahead

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2024

Hybrids have helped Maruti acquire leadership in SUVs, a segment that was never its forte. Toyota has also risen with the hybrid tide to clock its highest-ever annual sales in 2023.

After brisk start, electric vehicle penetration loses momentum in FY24

After brisk start, electric vehicle penetration loses momentum in FY24

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2024

Even as the government debates whether to continue the FAME-II subsidy for electric vehicles (EVs), the share of such vehicles in overall sales is decelerating, after witnessing a heady growth in the first few years. The penetration of EVs - electric two-wheelers, passenger vehicles, three- wheelers and other segments collectively - in the first 10 months of FY24 has been pegged at 4.3 per cent, compared to 3.7 per cent in FY23, according to credit rating agency ICRA.

Tax poser in the way of Hyundai local arm listing

Tax poser in the way of Hyundai local arm listing

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2024

South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Company is considering tax implications of listing its Indian unit before taking a final call, according to sources privy to the development. Hyundai Motor is mulling an initial public offering (IPO) for its Indian arm to raise around $3 billion (at a valuation of up to $30 billion), and talks are in the early stages between the company and bankers, banking sources revealed. Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), however, declined to comment on the development.

Rooftop solar charges up electric vehicle boom in India's smaller cities

Rooftop solar charges up electric vehicle boom in India's smaller cities

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2024

The push given to rooftop solar installation in the Interim Budget ties in with its high rate of adoption in Tier-II and -III cities of India. If original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the automobile industry, government, and the solar sector are to be believed, in cities of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Kerala, 45-50 per cent of electric-vehicle (EV) users are employing rooftop power to charge their vehicles. This is compared to the national average of 25 per cent, say industry sources.

Govt nearly doubles PLI scheme share of five key industry segments

Govt nearly doubles PLI scheme share of five key industry segments

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2024

In a big push to the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, the government has nearly doubled (increase of 81 per cent) the allocation in five key industry segments from Rs 8,405 crore in the Revised Estimate of FY24 to Rs 15,198 crore in the Interim Budget for FY25. The segments cover over eight PLI schemes, including mobile phones, IT hardware, pharma (PLIs for medical devices, intermediates and pharmaceuticals), food processing, telecom hardware and, auto and auto components. In FY24, DPIIT officials, however, said that the disbursements would be much higher at around Rs 11,000 crore than what has been budgeted for the year.

GOOD News! No Drug Price Hike In 2024

GOOD News! No Drug Price Hike In 2024

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2024

For the consumer, there would be practically no impact on prices of essential medicines this year.

3-wheeler dominance gives Bajaj confidence to try 2-wheelers running on CNG

3-wheeler dominance gives Bajaj confidence to try 2-wheelers running on CNG

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2024

Bajaj Auto, the king of the market for CNG-powered passenger three-wheelers, now wants to replicate this dominance in two-wheelers. The difference is that while the former is zooming - registrations for CNG-powered passenger three-wheelers nearly doubled during January-December 2023 - the latter, meaning a market for CNG-powered two-wheelers, does not exist.

Q3 result preview: US, India to aid revenue growth for Pharma Inc

Q3 result preview: US, India to aid revenue growth for Pharma Inc

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2024

The pharmaceuticals sector is expected to post a revenue growth of around 13.5 per cent and a net profit growth of 30.3 per cent for the third quarter of 2023-24 (FY24), riding on the approval for niche drugs in the US market, fall in raw material prices and correction in shipping rates. In the healthcare segment, hospitals are expected to post revenue growth of 13 per cent during the coverage, while net profit growth would be around 37 per cent, ICICI Securities said in a note. However, the performance may not be comparable on a sequential basis due to the offset of the festive season in Q3FY24, the analysts noted.

How AI Is Transforming Auto Manufacturing

How AI Is Transforming Auto Manufacturing

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2024

'From data on enquiries, we can build what we call a data lake or a data warehouse where data is classified into various cohorts and then we use AI and ML tools to predict demand down the line.'

'Aster DM's plan is to be among top three in India'

'Aster DM's plan is to be among top three in India'

Rediff.com   27 Jan 2024

'Now that we are a pure-play India business, many investors are open to investing.'

'Diageo India focuses on value rather than volume'

'Diageo India focuses on value rather than volume'

Rediff.com   26 Jan 2024

'Our approach has been to work with consumers and help them drink better, not more.'

India to tap 12% of global iPhone production in FY24, up from 9% earlier

India to tap 12% of global iPhone production in FY24, up from 9% earlier

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2024

Apple Inc is expected to produce iPhones worth $12 billion (freight on board value) in India during 2023-24, according to discussions between the company's vendors and the government. This would account for around 12 per cent of Apple's global iPhone production-higher than the earlier plan of shifting around 9 per cent of the total to India by FY24, which is the third year of the PLI (production-linked incentive) scheme.

Fortis plans acquisitions, may opt for neutral brand name

Fortis plans acquisitions, may opt for neutral brand name

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2024

Delhi-headquartered Fortis Healthcare is open to acquisition of hospitals with over 250-300 bed sizes as part of its strategy to grow at a faster clip. It may also opt for a neutral brand name soon. Neutral brand is a new brand, which is not owned by any of the stakeholders.

Domestic pharma market grew by 6.8% in 2023

Domestic pharma market grew by 6.8% in 2023

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2024

The Indian pharmaceutical market (IPM) grew 6.8 per cent to touch a turnover of ~1.93 trillion in calendar year 2023, despite volumes going down marginally by 0.9 per cent. This indicates the price increase has been the major growth driver. Growth in the moving annual turnover (the previous 12 months' turnover) in December was 5.1 per cent and that in new product introduction 2.6 per cent, while volumes dipped 0.9 per cent, leading to an overall growth rate of 6.8 per cent, according to the data from market research firm Pharmatrac.

Indians Are Still Traveling To Maldives

Indians Are Still Traveling To Maldives

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2024

Data for the first nine days of January shows that tourist arrivals from India to the Maldives has been at similar levels as last year during the same period.

Classic Legends charts revival plan; to focus more on Asean markets

Classic Legends charts revival plan; to focus more on Asean markets

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2024

Classic Legends, the owner of the Jawa and Yezdi brands, is embarking on a revival plan - from nearly doubling its dealership count in India, introducing more models, to focusing on exports to Asean markets. It recently introduced the Jawa 350 motorcycle to take on Royal Enfield. The company plans to add more models this year.