Subhayan Chakraborty &Amp;Amp; Indivjal Dhasmana

Stories by Subhayan Chakraborty &Amp;Amp; Indivjal Dhasmana

Next spectrum auction likely in February

Next spectrum auction likely in February

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2023

The next spectrum auction will be held in late February 2024 and the reserve price for most bands will remain the same as the 2022 auction, department of telecommunications (DoT) officials have said. The government expects operators to go for low bands beginning in 600 megahertz (MHz), licences for many of which are lapsing soon. Back in September 2021, the government had decided that spectrum auctions should be held annually.

Will Vasundhara Endorse Gehlot's Schemes

Will Vasundhara Endorse Gehlot's Schemes

Rediff.com   4 Dec 2023

The scarcity of resources is particularly evident in the case of Rajasthan compared to many other states.

'The real GDP was captured better'

'The real GDP was captured better'

Rediff.com   1 Dec 2023

'Revision of the base year for both CPI and GDP are long overdue.' 'The basic data that went into the 2011-2012 series were mainly from surveys done in 2011 or earlier.' 'We have since seen the emergence of new sectors like platform-based work and online marketing.' 'The employment surveys and the consumption surveys need to reflect these adequately.'

Telangana Polls: KCR's Affinity With Freebies

Telangana Polls: KCR's Affinity With Freebies

Rediff.com   13 Nov 2023

The situation raises concerns about whether the promised freebies will once again push the state into a revenue deficit.

Chhattisgarh, Mizoram: What Economy Says

Chhattisgarh, Mizoram: What Economy Says

Rediff.com   2 Nov 2023

As political winds stir in these states, it's prudent to assess their economic landscapes.

MP Polls: Economic Issues Facing Shivraj Singh Chouhan

MP Polls: Economic Issues Facing Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2023

Per capita income in the state has consistently been below the national average for at least 24 years. However, it has narrowed the gap with the all-India level in recent years.

Output of a third of manufacturing segments in Aug less than base year

Output of a third of manufacturing segments in Aug less than base year

Rediff.com   23 Oct 2023

Despite high headline numbers, the output of one-third of the segments in the manufacturing sector in August stood below even that in the same month in 2011-12, when the new index of industrial production (IIP) series started. This is despite the fact that manufacturing grew 9.3 per cent in the month, driving up IIP growth to a 14-month high of 10.3 per cent. Part of it is due to the devastation of these product categories by lockdowns induced by Covid waves and subdued export conditions, while part of it needs to be assessed further.

Semiconductor, deep tech to be in focus at the India Mobile Congress

Semiconductor, deep tech to be in focus at the India Mobile Congress

Rediff.com   18 Oct 2023

The three-day India Mobile Congress (IMC) will showcase the widening convergence of telecom with new domains, such as semiconductors and deep tech, P Ramakrishna, the forum's chief executive officer, said on Tuesday. With more than 250 global and domestic exhibitors, the seventh edition is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors this year, he said. There will also be over 5,000 CXO-level delegates and more than 350 speakers.

Union excise duty collection fell 12% in first five months of FY24

Union excise duty collection fell 12% in first five months of FY24

Rediff.com   10 Oct 2023

Union excise duty collection dropped 18 per cent in August year-on-year at a time when the overall central tax kitty rose about 94 per cent before devolution to the states. The mop-up from Union excise duty declined to Rs 23,576 crore in August this year compared to Rs 28,816 crore in the same month a year ago. On the other hand, total tax collection rose to Rs 2.9 trillion in the month as against Rs 1.5 trillion in August 2022-23, shows the data released by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

High on G20 bonhomie, India readies 4th summit with African Union

High on G20 bonhomie, India readies 4th summit with African Union

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2023

Keen to capitalise on the growing geopolitical support from African nations after the recently concluded G20 Summit, India is working with the African Union to hold the fourth India-Africa Forum Summit later this year in Kenya's Nairobi, sources said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the mega meet along with as many as 50 African leaders, they added. First held in New Delhi in 2008, the India-Africa Forum Summit marked India's initial diplomatic efforts to seek a comprehensive partnership with the African bloc of nations as a whole, at a time when China had begun its own outreach.

Hurdles in biofuel use: Few vehicles, weak ethanol-blended petrol rollout

Hurdles in biofuel use: Few vehicles, weak ethanol-blended petrol rollout

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2023

The limited availability of flexible (flex)-fuel vehicles in the Indian market and the slow rollout of ethanol-blended petrol by oil-marketing companies (OMCs) remain major obstacles to achieving widespread use of biofuels in the transportation sector in India. Recently, two Union ministers have emphasised India's biofuel potential, arguing that it has the capacity and potential to lead a transition towards widespread biofuel adoption. Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari signalled that this transition is well underway and urged car manufacturers to quickly adapt and introduce new biofuel-run vehicles, lest the government resort to taxing diesel vehicles.

With Elections Near, Debate On Freebies Rages

With Elections Near, Debate On Freebies Rages

Rediff.com   19 Sep 2023

Populism gains momentum during election periods, and this trend is evident in at least four states: Telangana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Can RBI Win The War On Inflation?

Can RBI Win The War On Inflation?

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2023

'There are occasions when the prices of individual items like food raise inflation; then supply-side measures must be taken.' 'But if there is continued inflation, it means liquidity is aggravating the situation.'

India's G20 Presidency Is Largest Ever

India's G20 Presidency Is Largest Ever

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2023

The first summit in South Asia, it will host the largest delegation of 43 heads of State and government as well as the heads of international organisations.

At 7 million, India saw highest mobile subscriber addition in Q2: Ericsson

At 7 million, India saw highest mobile subscriber addition in Q2: Ericsson

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2023

With seven million new subscribers, India accounted for the highest net addition of mobile subscriptions globally in the second quarter of 2023, according to the August edition of Ericsson Mobility. Among national markets, India was followed by China with five million and the US with three million subscribers. The subscriber penetration in India, however, stood at 79 per cent, compared to 120 per cent in China, the report said.

Satellite spectrum: Reliance Jio sends second legal opinion to Trai

Satellite spectrum: Reliance Jio sends second legal opinion to Trai

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2023

Reliance Jio has sent a second legal opinion to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on the subject of the potential allocation of satellite spectrum. The letter is written by retired Supreme Court Justice L Nageshwara Rao and argues in favour of auctions, stating that any other method for allocating spectrum apart from auctions could be constitutionally unsound. Business Standard has reviewed the letter.

India likely to discuss crude oil discounts with Iraq and UAE soon

India likely to discuss crude oil discounts with Iraq and UAE soon

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2023

India will soon meet Iraq and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to seek a definitive rate of discount on crude oil similar to what Russia has provided so far, sources said. Multiple officials and industry executives said Iraq, which is India's biggest oil supplier, wants to discuss the level of discounts expected by Indian refiners. India's focus on snapping up ever-increasing volumes of Russian crude oil has led to a corresponding decline in imports from the Middle East. Flows from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have suffered as a result.

Loan granted to credit card holder is exempt from IGST: Calcutta HC

Loan granted to credit card holder is exempt from IGST: Calcutta HC

Rediff.com   1 Aug 2023

The interest charged on an inter-state loan given to a credit card holder without the use of a plastic card would not be subject to the integrated goods and services tax (IGST), a two-judge bench of the Calcutta high court has ruled. In this connection, it recently set aside a ruling by a single judge of the high court. The issue was a loan of Rs 650,000 granted by Citi Bank with an EMI of Rs 58,056 for 12 months and inclusive of integrated GST (IGST) on each installment of interest.

Higher discounts likely to prompt India to buy more crude oil from UAE

Higher discounts likely to prompt India to buy more crude oil from UAE

Rediff.com   27 Jul 2023

Higher discounts on crude oil offered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to wean India away from Russian crude may soon see Indian refiners ramping up purchases from the Gulf nation, officials at multiple refiners said. They also pointed to the recent agreement on trade settlement in national currencies signed between India and the UAE as a reason for this. "While discussions are underway, the UAE has offered discounts on crude, which will be more than that of the current level of Russian discounts.

Govt portal pins 285,000 missing mobile phones, but only 20,771 recovered

Govt portal pins 285,000 missing mobile phones, but only 20,771 recovered

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2023

The Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) of the department of telecommunications (DoT) has traced 285,000 lost or stolen mobile phones and blocked 680,000 devices since being launched. However, recoveries remain relatively low at 20,771 devices. According to government estimates, around 50,000 mobile phones are stolen every month in the country. Launched nationwide on May 16, the CEIR is a part of the DoT's Sanchar Saathi portal. It is the primary government platform aimed at protecting mobile phone users from various frauds such as identity theft, forged KYC, theft of mobile devices and banking frauds.