Somesh Jha &Amp; Archis Mohan

Stories by Somesh Jha &Amp; Archis Mohan

Rahul to follow Rajiv's path to connect with people

Rahul to follow Rajiv's path to connect with people

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2019

Rahul Gandhi and young leaders close to him are planning to connect with party workers on the ground and are preparing to embark on a nationwide yatra, reports Archis Mohan.

Meet the Opposition's grand marshall in the Rajya Sabha

Meet the Opposition's grand marshall in the Rajya Sabha

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2019

Despite the Congress having nearly four times as many members in the Rajya Sabha as the TMC (48 to 13), Derek O'Brien has been informally leading the coordination of Opposition parties, rallying other parties to demand a discussion on electoral reforms and to protest the government's disinvestment plans, report Rahul Jacob and Archis Mohan.

Will this be the 'most productive' Parliament session?

Will this be the 'most productive' Parliament session?

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2019

Union ministers said Parliament passing over two dozen Bills was evidence of increased productivity of Narendra Modi government 2.0.

BJP's total assets swell by 22%, Cong sees 15% fall

BJP's total assets swell by 22%, Cong sees 15% fall

Rediff.com   1 Aug 2019

According to a report by the Association of Democratic Reforms, the ruling party's assets rose to Rs 1,483.35 crore in 2017-18 over its previous financial year's declaration of Rs 1,213 crore.

No overtime without employee consent

No overtime without employee consent

Rediff.com   29 Jul 2019

The Bill states a worker will be paid twice his or her wage if he or she is allowed to work overtime. A majority of workers in India worked more than 48 hours in a week, which is higher than the International Labour Organisation's prescribed time-limit.

Garg leaves without signing off on Jalan panel report

Garg leaves without signing off on Jalan panel report

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2019

Garg had refused to sign on the report finalised by the former Reserve Bank of India governor Bimal Jalan-led committee reviewing the central bank's economic capital framework (ECF).

To ease compliance, govt plans major labour reforms

To ease compliance, govt plans major labour reforms

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2019

Single registration will be coupled with single licence, along with a single return, for executing projects for five years.

Govt to extend minimum wages to 100% of workforce

Govt to extend minimum wages to 100% of workforce

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2019

Under the New Code on Wages Bill 2019, employers will be required to give the minimum wages, notified by either the state or the Centre, to the unorganised sector, too.

A rare politician with immense grace

A rare politician with immense grace

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2019

In her death, the Congress has lost a leader who brought old world grace to politics but was open to new ideas.

Banks likely to freeze accounts of shell firms

Banks likely to freeze accounts of shell firms

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2019

Government suspects that many of these bank accounts were used to launder money, especially after the demonetisation in November 2016.

Will Congress see a non-Gandhi at its helm?

Will Congress see a non-Gandhi at its helm?

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2019

Senior leaders Sushil Kumar Shinde and Mallikarju Kharge could be elected as next party chief.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: How govt plans to tackle India's water woes

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: How govt plans to tackle India's water woes

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2019

The aim of the programme is to increase the water table in the stressed areas through dams, ponds, and afforestation. According to a NITI Aayog study, by 2030, the country's water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual 6 per cent loss in the country's GDP.

Will Modi govt manage to push labour reforms this time?

Will Modi govt manage to push labour reforms this time?

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2019

After assuming power in 2014 with a full majority of its own, the BJP-led NDA government started an ambitious process of reforming labour laws in the form of codes aimed at making the framework less cumbersome with a variety of alterations. It had planned four codes each for industrial relations, wages, social security and welfare, and occupational safety, health and working conditions. To this end, 35 central labour laws were to be converted into four codes that would have had the virtue of streamlining labour relations. But none of the proposed code Bills could be converted into a law principally because neither trade unions nor industry representatives came on board. They hold the key to India's low-growth-high unemployment paradigm but the government may struggle to push them through this time as well. Somesh Jha explains why

RBI's new stressed asset resolution is 'practical'

RBI's new stressed asset resolution is 'practical'

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2019

'If there is a technical issue and the borrowers can resolve it within 30 days, you don't have to go through the bankruptcy court.' 'If the borrower is expecting a large disbursal of a facility or expecting a payment or receivables, in such cases it becomes practical to give a window for taking care of such circumstances. 'If banks had aggregated the assets and benefited with a long relationship with borrowers and now when assets get into a trouble, it is incumbent on banks to find resolution and take responsibility.'

Manmohan retires from Rajya Sabha

Manmohan retires from Rajya Sabha

Rediff.com   15 Jun 2019

Will DMK send former PM to the Rajya Sabha next month?

BJP membership drive to focus on Bengal, South

BJP membership drive to focus on Bengal, South

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2019

The exercise would culminate into the election of a successor to Amit Shah.

An insurance plan that will benefit both employers and employees

An insurance plan that will benefit both employers and employees

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2019

The scheme, which will be effective from July 1, 2019 would benefit 36 million employees and 1.28 million employers. The ESI Act applies to factories with 10 or more workers and provides for medical, cash, maternity, disability and dependent benefits to employees drawing a salary of up to Rs 21,000 per month.

On the govt's table: PSU general insurance consolidation

On the govt's table: PSU general insurance consolidation

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2019

'The plan is to secure nod of the Union Cabinet and other relevant regulatory approvals within the next three months,' a senior finance ministry official said, requesting anonymity.

How Amit Shah delivered 303 seats to Modi

How Amit Shah delivered 303 seats to Modi

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2019

For the 2019 polls, the BJP chief deployed over 7,000 leaders to oversee the work of polling committees on the over 400 seats the BJP contested. These committees were asked to focus on 120 seats the party had lost in 2014, but believed it could win in 2019.

Modi's message in portfolios for new ministers

Modi's message in portfolios for new ministers

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2019

He dropped those perceived to be non-performers or whose integrity came into question, and also where it was felt they needed to learn a lesson or two in humility.