Somesh Jha &Amp; Samreen Ahmad

Stories by Somesh Jha &Amp; Samreen Ahmad

CBI told to use director identification number in notices to bankers

CBI told to use director identification number in notices to bankers

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2019

This, said Sitharaman, would remove the possibility of unauthorised communication "and consequent harassment", which was a cause of concern for bankers.

How Infosys plans to check attrition

How Infosys plans to check attrition

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2019

With the attrition rate continuing well above 20 per cent, one of the highest in the segment, Infosys is on a drive to reimagine the way it engages with employees starting from the time of recruitment itself. The company is using digital technologies in order to simplify recruitment, provide faster career track to employees, and incentivise people with top skills. The company is looking at doubling the number of recruits from tier-I engineering colleges such as IITs and NITs to enrich its talent base. These candidates who are offered twice the salary as compared to regular campus recruits, join as 'power programmers', a term that has been internally coined by the company to recognise the top coders.

State-run banks come to the rescue of MSMEs

State-run banks come to the rescue of MSMEs

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2019

Banks will also consider requests from MSMEs for restructuring their stressed standard assets. So far, only 25 per cent of the around 1 million eligible MSMEs have taken benefit of the RBI's special dispensation.

Gig economy workers may now get insurance cover under ESIC scheme

Gig economy workers may now get insurance cover under ESIC scheme

Rediff.com   5 Dec 2019

Gig workers are usually spoken of in the context of the sharing economy, like Uber, Ola drivers, delivery persons for Zomato and Swiggy and so on. This is the first time such workers will be covered under India's social security law.

Marriott's mega India dream: 50 hotels in 5 years

Marriott's mega India dream: 50 hotels in 5 years

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2019

The hotels in the pipeline will include a range of Marriott brand portfolios such as JW Marriott, Tribute Portfolio and Sheraton.

Only 61% homes used LPG as of Dec 2018

Only 61% homes used LPG as of Dec 2018

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2019

Only 48.3 per cent of the rural households used LPG, while the figures were much higher in urban areas at 86.6 per cent, according to a NSO report.

Titan's mega plan to become leader in India's smartwatch space

Titan's mega plan to become leader in India's smartwatch space

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2019

Titan is investing heavily on research and development, which will do things beyond a smart watch can do today such as switching off lights, locking, and unlocking doors and making payments. Titan is also working closely with start-ups, too, to develop such futuristic features.

Govt releases 5 survey reports but holds back study it junked

Govt releases 5 survey reports but holds back study it junked

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2019

The government's decision to release the reports comes two days after over 200 scholars from across the globe issued a statement demanding release of all withheld reports produced by the NSO, including the household consumer expenditure survey that was junked.

Consumer spend falls for the first time in over 40 years

Consumer spend falls for the first time in over 40 years

Rediff.com   22 Nov 2019

Experts said a dip in consumption expenditure indicated an increasing prevalence of poverty in the country.

This Bill will decide how India Inc hires and fires

This Bill will decide how India Inc hires and fires

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2019

Sitharaman said the Bill has proposed giving a legal framework for fixed-term employment through which contract workers serving a fixed-tenure will get equal statutory social security benefits as regular workers in the same unit.

Govt scraps consumer expenditure survey over 'data quality'

Govt scraps consumer expenditure survey over 'data quality'

Rediff.com   16 Nov 2019

The findings of the report showed consumer spending falling for the first time in over four decades in 2017-18. The government has, however, termed it a "draft" report, reports Somesh Jha.

Why govt wants to classifying jobs based on skills

Why govt wants to classifying jobs based on skills

Rediff.com   13 Nov 2019

In the draft rules, among 681 listed professions, armed security guards, supervisors, surveyors, and carpenters (class I) are proposed to be treated as highly skilled professionals; electricians, tailors and drivers are skilled; cooks and cobblers as semi-skilled and dairy coolies, office peons and sweepers as unskilled.

Mudra loans led to a 28% rise in jobs

Mudra loans led to a 28% rise in jobs

Rediff.com   7 Nov 2019

After taking benefit of the scheme, jobs increased by around 11 mn in establishments that took loans.

Pension schemes: Govt owes Rs 9,100 crore, says EPFO

Pension schemes: Govt owes Rs 9,100 crore, says EPFO

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2019

Part of the dues has been pending since 1995-96 - the inception year of the Employees' Pension Scheme administered by the EPFO. The Centre also owes the EPFO more than Rs 1,000 crore towards the minimum pension scheme it had notified in September 2014.

New-look FRDI bill to offer higher deposit insurance

New-look FRDI bill to offer higher deposit insurance

Rediff.com   17 Oct 2019

The government would be ironing out issues related to the controversial 'bail-in' clause in the earlier Bill, explore hiking the deposit insurance cover of customers, and decide whether the resolution framework should apply to public sector banks.

Sitharaman readies relief package for MSMEs, NBFCs

Sitharaman readies relief package for MSMEs, NBFCs

Rediff.com   15 Oct 2019

PSBs have been requested to reach out to MSMEs to provide bill discounting to them against their dues since they suffer the most from shortage of cash.

Gig workers set to come under labour laws

Gig workers set to come under labour laws

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2019

According to draft Code on Social Security, 2019, gig and platform workers will be entitled to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, among others.

GSK withdraws sale of Zinetac after health alert

GSK withdraws sale of Zinetac after health alert

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2019

GSK is continuing with investigations into the potential source of the NDMA, which is a known environmental contaminant and found in water and foods, including meats, dairy products, and vegetables.

Retailers making the most of 'new' Bharat

Retailers making the most of 'new' Bharat

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2019

Riding on this change in aspirations, V-Mart a value retail chain is growing close to 22 per cent year-on-year, and is aggressively looking to expand its footprint, with 60 new stores this year.

Did Sitharaman overrule bankers on loan 'mela'?

Did Sitharaman overrule bankers on loan 'mela'?

Rediff.com   21 Sep 2019

PSB chiefs tried to argue that liquidity is in surplus in the system and the problem was related to lack of demand in the economy, instead of banks' reluctance to lend, but 'the FM said it is a perception issue that loan is not available, which we need to dispel,', reports Somesh Jha.