Somesh Jha &Amp; Subhayan Chakraborty

Stories by Somesh Jha &Amp; Subhayan Chakraborty

12 urgent ways to decriminalise business offences

12 urgent ways to decriminalise business offences

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2020

Covering 37 different legislations such as the Partnership Act of 1932, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and laws on environmental protection, consumer protection and labour interests, the recommendations have been shared with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

WhatsApp Pay gets nod, eyes lion's share of market

WhatsApp Pay gets nod, eyes lion's share of market

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2020

Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp has secured regulatory approval for launching its digital payment platform -- WhatApp Pay -- in a phased manner, close to two years after the US-based company's pilot run.

Why EPFO blocked accounts of 1 mn employees

Why EPFO blocked accounts of 1 mn employees

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2020

The government has found about 900,000 beneficiaries of its flagship job formalisation scheme, the PMRPY, were ineligible in the first place as they were part of the formal economy even before the inception of the scheme. The EPFO has also recovered Rs 222 crore so far from the employers concerned.

How govt plans to tighten the screws on imports

How govt plans to tighten the screws on imports

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2020

A string of measures includes specific provisions in rules governing anti-dumping, safeguards, and basic Customs duties.

Will bank customers pay for higher depositors' insurance?

Will bank customers pay for higher depositors' insurance?

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2020

'The banks cannot pass on the hike in premiums to its customers, according to the norms. The premium won't go up substantially in any case and may be hiked to 12-13 paise (per deposit of Rs 100 a year),' Finance Secretary Rajiv Kumar said.

Govt wants Rs 10,000 cr interim dividend from RBI to bridge fiscal gap

Govt wants Rs 10,000 cr interim dividend from RBI to bridge fiscal gap

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2020

This demand comes at a time when the government is falling short of its revenue targets due to dwindling tax and low disinvestment receipts. It could account for the dividend in the upcoming Union Budget on February 1. RBI is, however, yet to take a final call on the government's demand and might decide on this at its central board meeting scheduled for February 15 in New Delhi.

Exporters want Budget to address slow tax refunds

Exporters want Budget to address slow tax refunds

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2020

With exporters' claim for over five months still pending, liquidity has been wiped out and the process of finalising new contracts has been held up.

Asean bloc invites India for RCEP dialogue in Bali next month

Asean bloc invites India for RCEP dialogue in Bali next month

Rediff.com   22 Jan 2020

The Asean secretariat hopes the meet may be able to iron out existing wrinkles raised by India. Since there had been no significant progress on the matter over the past two years on most issues, New Delhi is yet to decide on the invite.

'This is the only way to save the economy today'

'This is the only way to save the economy today'

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2020

'I suggest a cut in the GST rates and an infusion of Rs 1.2 trillion into the economy in six months.'

RBI plans to put weak private lenders under the hammer

RBI plans to put weak private lenders under the hammer

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2020

The banking regulator is seeking an early exit mechanism for private banks under Prompt Corrective Action.

Modi's 5-year vision: What's it all about

Modi's 5-year vision: What's it all about

Rediff.com   13 Jan 2020

Spurring the economy, currently in the throes of a slowdown, remains the prime focus for most ministries, but the government is also looking to make women's welfare and environmental protection key to policymaking in this term.

JNU fallout: Professor quits statistics panel

JNU fallout: Professor quits statistics panel

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2020

C P Chandrasekhar, who has served on key statistical panels in the past both as a chairman and member, said he was present in the campus when the ruckus broke out on Sunday and found the incident "disturbing" and "unprecedented", and that it further undermined the faith in the system. Somesh Jha reports.

FinMin counters RBI, says stress in banking sector declining

FinMin counters RBI, says stress in banking sector declining

Rediff.com   29 Dec 2019

The net NPA ratio declined to 3.7 per cent in September 2019 from just below 4 per cent in March 2019, reflecting increased provisioning.

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.

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.

Growth finally back in services sector; PMI stood at 52.7

Growth finally back in services sector; PMI stood at 52.7

Rediff.com   5 Dec 2019

While manufacturing firms cut jobs for the first time in 20 months to sharply reduce costs, services providers continued their hiring spree.

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.

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.

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.