Sohini Das, Sundar Sethuraman

Stories by Sohini Das, Sundar Sethuraman

PM's lockdown address best in terms of TV ratings

PM's lockdown address best in terms of TV ratings

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2020

The telecast was viewed by 197 million Indians, higher than the Indian Premier League final which was watched by 133 million, reports Sohini Das.

COVID-19 test: Why patients opt out of private labs

COVID-19 test: Why patients opt out of private labs

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2020

At present, the cost of testing for COVID-19 is Rs 4,500 per examination and the results are available within 24 hours. Almost 90 per cent of queries fizzle out after patients realise the cost of testing will not be borne by the government.

Govt now allows doorstep delivery of drugs

Govt now allows doorstep delivery of drugs

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2020

Medicines that fall under Schedule H category (class of prescription drugs) would be provided against a valid prescription that can be submitted either physically or over e-mail. Narcotics, psychotropics and controlled substances, though, cannot be delivered.

Coronavirus spread: Retailers, multiplexes, mall owners spar over rentals

Coronavirus spread: Retailers, multiplexes, mall owners spar over rentals

Rediff.com   20 Mar 2020

Retailers and multiplex operators want mall owners to either forgo rent for the period of the shutdown or lower rent in the event the mall is open but footfalls are low.

How companies deal with coronavirus panic

How companies deal with coronavirus panic

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2020

Employees asked to work from home... cancelled travel plans... curtailed meetings... Caution and precaution dominate Corporate India's response to Covid-19.

Coronavirus fear robs malls, multiplexes of Holi colour

Coronavirus fear robs malls, multiplexes of Holi colour

Rediff.com   8 Mar 2020

'There is a clear business impact. People are avoiding crowded places and gatherings across cities. This is hitting business, both at traditional and modern trade outlets, during the Holi season, which kicked off from Saturday,' says Praveen Khandelwal, general secretary, Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT).

Coronavirus impact: Govt restricts exports of 13 APIs, formulations

Coronavirus impact: Govt restricts exports of 13 APIs, formulations

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2020

Exports of 13 APIs - including paracetamol, tinidazole, metronidazole, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, acyclovir, progesterone - along with formulations made from these APIs, would be restricted.

Weak economic data, coronavirus spook investors

Weak economic data, coronavirus spook investors

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2020

Both indices are down nearly 9 per cent from their all-time highs in mid-January. A sharp reversal seems difficult this time as the peak impact of the virus is yet to play out.

Rs 750 to Rs 755 per share price band fixed for SBI Cards IPO

Rs 750 to Rs 755 per share price band fixed for SBI Cards IPO

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2020

At issue size of Rs 10,355 cr, the offering will be Asia's biggest this year and fifth-largest domestically.

Coronavirus outbreak: Domestic drug market stares at supply crisis

Coronavirus outbreak: Domestic drug market stares at supply crisis

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2020

Big pharma companies, however, said while it was true that formulation players would not rush to buy raw material, they could not afford losing customers.

Kohli is top celebrity brand for third time in a row

Kohli is top celebrity brand for third time in a row

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2020

The Duff & Phelps report shows that Virat Kohli has increased his brand value by 40 per cent to $237.5 million in 2019 and taken a huge lead with his closest rival, Akshay Kumar, ranked second.

Coronavirus scare: India may soon run short of antibiotics, diabetes drugs

Coronavirus scare: India may soon run short of antibiotics, diabetes drugs

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2020

Indian pharmaceutical companies are heavily dependent on China to source fermentation-based active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates to manufacture these medicines, but the coronavirus outbreak there has disrupted the supply.

Medical devices to be treated as drugs from next fiscal

Medical devices to be treated as drugs from next fiscal

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2020

The new regime aims to bring in ease of doing business, as the NITI Aayog has proposed to do away with the need to have manufacturing licences to register medical devices or to get a certificate of compliance.

Coronavirus: Windfall likely for medical device firms

Coronavirus: Windfall likely for medical device firms

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2020

As fear grips the world, demand for protective gear used by health care professionals and citizens is on a rise. And, supply disruption from China has opened a window of opportunities for Indian medical device makers.

ITI withdraws Rs 1,300-crore FPO over poor demand

ITI withdraws Rs 1,300-crore FPO over poor demand

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2020

The government holds 90 per cent stake in ITI which is valued at Rs 7,550 crore.

DDT abolished: Nearly 60% high dividend yielding shares end in the red

DDT abolished: Nearly 60% high dividend yielding shares end in the red

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2020

The Street was hoping that investors will lap up shares of high-dividend companies on optimism that their payouts will increase further, thanks to the 20 per cent tax saving. However, the trade failed to materialise as wealthy investors stayed away fearing high tax outgo, and experts raised doubts on whether companies would actually increase cash dole outs.

NSE 'dark fibre' case: Sebi exonerates Ravi Narain

NSE 'dark fibre' case: Sebi exonerates Ravi Narain

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2020

In May 2019, Sebi had penalised the NSE as well as two of its former heads - Narain and Chitra Ramkrishna - for allowing Sampark to provide the dark fibre connectivity to stock brokers, despite not having the authorised licence. Dark fibre refers to an unused optical fibre used for high-speed connectivity.

Adamant Trai says will implement new tariff order by March 1

Adamant Trai says will implement new tariff order by March 1

Rediff.com   14 Jan 2020

Reiterating its position, TRAI, which oversees both the telecom and television sectors in the country, said the amendments suggested on January 1 had been done to correct "distortions" in the market and address pricing issues.

Price relief for diabetes patients as drugs go off patent

Price relief for diabetes patients as drugs go off patent

Rediff.com   13 Jan 2020

At least two key drugs in the gliptin category have already gone off patent and cheaper variants are crowding the market. Also, several patent expiries are round the corner for the newest category of drugs - SGLT-2 inhibitors or gliflozins.

How Avengers stole the Indian box office

How Avengers stole the Indian box office

Rediff.com   1 Jan 2020

'If you look at the Number 1 film in India this year across Bollywood and other regional film industries, it is Avengers: Endgame.'