Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Ruchika Chitravanshi

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Ruchika Chitravanshi

Why did ED freeze Amway's Rs 757 crore?

Why did ED freeze Amway's Rs 757 crore?

Rediff.com   6 May 2022

Amway maintains the action was related to a case in 2011 and it has been cooperating with the investigative agency.

Why Amway India has failed to meet targets

Why Amway India has failed to meet targets

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2022

In 2013, weeks after getting bail in a case of alleged cheating in Kerala, Amway India's then managing director, William Scott Pinckney, declared that the company was aiming to hit revenues of Rs 10,000 crore in India in a decade. Fast forward to 2021, and Milind Pant, Amway's global CEO, announced that the company has designated India as one among the top three markets for growth and investment (after US and China), and is now looking at hitting revenues of Rs 20,000 crore over the long term.

Electric three-wheeler market: Can Bajaj Auto storm in and become king?

Electric three-wheeler market: Can Bajaj Auto storm in and become king?

Rediff.com   20 Apr 2022

In a fragmented electric three-wheeler market where no company has more than a 10 per cent share, leave alone a dominant presence, can Bajaj Auto storm in and become king? The company is set to launch its range of electric auto rickshaws in June and hopes to replicate its success in ICE three-wheelers where it is the undisputed market leader with a 63 per cent market share. Can it be crowned king of the electric three-wheeler market too? Overall, electric sale volumes are growing at breakneck speed.

IPL rights base price doubles to Rs 32,890 crore in five years

IPL rights base price doubles to Rs 32,890 crore in five years

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2022

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has pegged the base price for the combined IPL media rights at Rs 32,890 crore, nearly double the Rs 16,347 that Star Disney paid five years ago. Experts say that at these levels, there does not seem to be any profit-and-loss logic at play. It is more about what premium broadcasting companies are ready to spend for market share dominance. They point out that due to competition, they expect the final price to hit Rs 40,000-50,000 crore.

Will 5G turn the tables for India's telecom companies?

Will 5G turn the tables for India's telecom companies?

Rediff.com   30 Mar 2022

Consumers can expect a 5G launch in the country soon. Telecom companies (telcos) say if auctions take place on time - the target is July - they would be able to offer some services in a few cities by the end of this year and a full roll-out from 2023. But the question is: will 5G turn the tables for telcos financially? Will average revenue per user (ARPU) improve? Will mobile consumers upgrade to 5G quickly and pay more? Will the expanded functions that 5G enables drum up sufficient revenues? In simple terms, will telcos make more money?

E-com platform Shopee shuts India operations

E-com platform Shopee shuts India operations

Rediff.com   29 Mar 2022

Singapore-based e-commerce platform Shopee - that launched in India only in December 2021 - has decided to close operations in the country. The official reason given by Shopee, which is controlled by NYSE-listed Sea Ltd, is changing global sentiments. In a statement, it said, "In view of the global market uncertainties, we have decided to close risks of our early-stage Shopee India initiative." The e-commerce platform has been hit by growing opposition from trade associations led by Praveen Khandelwal as well as homegrown social commerce start-ups.

Apple may start iPhone production at Foxconn plant from April

Apple may start iPhone production at Foxconn plant from April

Rediff.com   21 Mar 2022

Seven months after it was launched in India, Apple is expected to start manufacturing the iPhone 13 at the Foxconn plant in Sriperumbudur near Chennai from April, according to sources. The phones will be for both the domestic and export market. The production of the iPhone 13 in the Chennai plant was meant to start from January but had to be postponed after Apple suspended production following protests in December by women workers about food poisoning. An Apple spokesperson did not respond to an e-mail query.

Oberoi Realty surges to top with highest sales in 2021

Oberoi Realty surges to top with highest sales in 2021

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2022

Oberoi Realty has hit the top slot in Mumbai's ranking of the top-20 developers in terms of sales in 2021, evicting the Runwal group which was number one last year. The Lodha group which had occupied the top slot three out of five times since 2017 slipped to second place in 2020 and continues to be in the same position in 2021. The Oberoi group was in fifth place in 2019 and fourth place in 2020. This is the first time that it has occupied the number one position. The Runwal group which took the top slot in 2020 is down to third place in 2021.

Reliance sets its drone biz plan in motion

Reliance sets its drone biz plan in motion

Rediff.com   18 Feb 2022

Reliance Industries has put together an aggressive plan to build its drone business which includes expanding manufacturing capacity five-fold, participating in the new drone production linked incentive scheme, and experimenting with limited logistics payloads to deliver goods. The target is to become a key player in the expected $5 billion market in India by the end of the decade. The drone business is being carried out through a Bangalore-based start up, Asteria Aerospace, in which Reliance has taken a majority stake. Asteria is a subsidiary of Jio Platforms Ltd.

Xiaomi plans to focus on Rs 20,000-50,000 range in premium market

Xiaomi plans to focus on Rs 20,000-50,000 range in premium market

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2022

Chinese giant Xiaomi is going for the premium segment with a view to grabbing market share in the Rs 20,000 to Rs 50,000 smart phone market as well as having offerings up to Rs 70,000 where players like One Plus, Samsung, Vivo and Apple are key players. "Two years ago, the Rs 20,000 plus smart phone market which is considered premium in India was very small. "Out of every 100 phones sold, only 10 were above this price mark. "However, in the last two years, it suddenly grew and we thought it was big enough for us to focus on now," said Manu Kumar Jain, managing director, Xiaomi India.

Indian smartphone brands reeling under Chinese onslaught

Indian smartphone brands reeling under Chinese onslaught

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2022

The onslaught of Chinese mobile brands is virtually obliterating Indian brands, especially in terms of value. According to industry estimates based on excise and Custom duty trends, the value share of Indian brands (across smartphones and feature phones, operator phone sales - which is mostly Jio phones - and the value of phones smuggled into the country) has dropped to a mere 1.2 per cent in January-October 2021 compared to 25.4 per cent in the calendar year 2015. In the same period, the Chinese have established their domination, hitting a value share of 64.5 per cent, up from 17.8 per cent.

Private Credit: PE Players Want To Plunge

Private Credit: PE Players Want To Plunge

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2022

More and more PE players are willing to test the waters now, just in case they become early entrants in a future booming business.

Number of Covid symptomatic kids jump, post-recovery issues a concern

Number of Covid symptomatic kids jump, post-recovery issues a concern

Rediff.com   14 Jan 2022

While the infection has been mild in most reported cases, those below two years of age are showing signs of acute infection.

'We will try to be among top 3 IT services firms'

'We will try to be among top 3 IT services firms'

Rediff.com   5 Jan 2022

'There is definitely a skill war, or a talent war going on.'

'We have to do everything to avoid a super spreader event'

'We have to do everything to avoid a super spreader event'

Rediff.com   1 Jan 2022

'Health will continue to be at the centre of the government's attention as it underpins economic recovery and our collective well being.'

Omicron in India: 'Surge likely in January'

Omicron in India: 'Surge likely in January'

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2021

'Whether the substantial hybrid immunity present in India can protect against severe consequences of the disease remains to be seen.'

How govt plans to plug gaps in the bankruptcy code

How govt plans to plug gaps in the bankruptcy code

Rediff.com   25 Dec 2021

In a move to plug gaps in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) has proposed robust norms against avoidance transactions, wrongful trading, and inordinate delays via changes to look-back period and fixed timelines for the tribunals to reject or approve plans, among other measures. The MCA has proposed that the IBC should provide the adjudicating authority with 30 days for approving or rejecting a resolution plan under Section 31. If a decision is not made on the resolution plan within that period, the adjudicating authority will record reasons in writing for the same, the ministry has proposed.

Govt plans to complete 5G auction in July

Govt plans to complete 5G auction in July

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2021

The government is looking at a time frame within the first two weeks of July to kick off and complete the upcoming 5G auctions, according to discussions between officials and stakeholders. It is expected that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) will give its recommendations on the base price by March, after which the necessary cabinet clearances will be given. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had earlier looked at undertaking the auction in the first quarter of 2022 but decided to push it back. Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had also said that the auctions are likely to take place in April-May.

Is A Vaccine Booster Needed?

Is A Vaccine Booster Needed?

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2021

'There is no emergency of a third wave that we are rushing for booster doses.'