Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Sanjeeb Mukherjee

What's Micron's Role In India's Chip Race?

What's Micron's Role In India's Chip Race?

Rediff.com   28 Sep 2023

The first leg of Micron's semiconductor play in Sanand is crucial for the company to sprint towards India's goal of joining the chip race.

Pegatron factory may start ops soon, no impact on supply of iPhone15 series

Pegatron factory may start ops soon, no impact on supply of iPhone15 series

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2023

Even as top Pegatron executives went to the factory near Chennai on Tuesday to make an assessment of the fire damage to decide on a possible date for resuming operations, sources said the impact of the closure will be minimal for Apple's iPhone production. Late in the evening sources said that the factory might be operational soon-but said they are waiting for a final update. It will also not impact the availability of the newly-launched iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, they said.

No plan on OTTs sharing revenue with telcos: Govt

No plan on OTTs sharing revenue with telcos: Govt

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2023

There is no plan to direct over the top (OTT) communications players who generate large amounts of traffic to give a 'fair and proportionate' share of their revenues to telecom network operators, the communications ministry has said. A senior official allayed any such apprehension by saying: "We have no proposal of this kind or anything like this which we are working on. "There is no fresh reference on this matter to the regulator (Trai)," he said. The ministry's view is significant as telecom network operators have been escalating this issue since July when Trai issued a consultation paper called 'Regulatory Mechanism Over OTT Communication Services and Selective Banning of OTT Services'.

AIIMS-Like Centre For Animals In Delhi

AIIMS-Like Centre For Animals In Delhi

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2023

The Centre, for the first time, has initiated a draft proposal for setting up an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-like institute of national importance for animal health, education and research in Delhi to be called the All India Institute of Veterinary Sciences (AIIVS).

Pulses prices stabilise as rains revive over major growing states

Pulses prices stabilise as rains revive over major growing states

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2023

After a steady surge, prices of pulses, except those of urad and masoor to some extent, are showing signs of stabilising amid a revival of monsoon rains over major growing areas of Maharashtra and Karnataka, and on expectations of a rise in imports. Chana prices, which too had moved up in recent months, have dropped by almost 3 per cent since the end of August due to increased liquidation of government stocks, official data shows. Monsoon rains seem to have benefitted the standing soybean crop as well.

Govt seeks to allay concern over 'retaliatory' duty cut on US apples

Govt seeks to allay concern over 'retaliatory' duty cut on US apples

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2023

India's recent move to remove additional 'retaliatory' duty on eight products from the United States (US), including apples and walnuts, would not have any negative impact on the domestic producers, the government clarified, even as the issue threatened to snowball into a political slugfest between the ruling and Opposition parties. The move would, in fact, result in competition in the premium market segment, ensuring better quality at better prices for consumers, especially for apples, a senior government official said. "There were certain concerns that were being raised on the mutually agreed solution that has come in, more specific to seven-eight agriculture products where we had levied additional import duties in retaliation to the steel and aluminum measures (imposed by the US)," Peeyush Kumar, additional secretary in the commerce department, told reporters in a briefing.

Rice Economy Faces Turmoil as El Nino Turns Up Heat

Rice Economy Faces Turmoil as El Nino Turns Up Heat

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2023

In the coming months, globally as well as in India, rice might remain a hot potato.

How much does iPhone 15 cost? Rs 79,900 to Rs 199,900

How much does iPhone 15 cost? Rs 79,900 to Rs 199,900

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2023

Apple Inc has announced the India prices of the new variants of its bestselling smartphones - launched on Tuesday - as it assembles the device in the country. The new iPhone 15 range starts at Rs 79,900 for the 128 GB variant (the same price as the iPhone 14 when it was launched last year) and goes up to Rs 199,900 for the top-end Pro Max with a 6.7 inch screen and 1 TB (terabyte) storage. The world's most valuable company also launched three new upgraded Apple watches, starting with the SE at Rs 29,900 and going up to Ultra 2 at Rs 89,900.

Focus shifts from exports to import substitution

Focus shifts from exports to import substitution

Rediff.com   8 Sep 2023

It started out as a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to make India an export hub. But after many a twist and turns, the latest 2.0 PLI for IT hardware, for which the 40 eligible candidates have applied till its deadline, is now focused on 'import substitution'. The scheme will help in reducing India's over-dependence on imports (80 per cent of laptops are imported), especially from China which include laptops, tablets and servers.

EVs: Why LFP Is The Next Big Thing

EVs: Why LFP Is The Next Big Thing

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2023

From the customer point of view too, LFP batteries are safer and offer a longer life.

What G20 Leaders' Spouses Can Expect

What G20 Leaders' Spouses Can Expect

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2023

An exhibition on the origins of Indian art, culture, handicrafts, and India's grassroots farming innovations is scheduled for September 9 and 10.

How Politicians Prevented Onion Tears

How Politicians Prevented Onion Tears

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2023

Even before NCP-Ajit Pawar leaders came to meet in Delhi, the central government decided to buy 200,000 tonnes of onions from farmers at Rs 24.1 per quintal. This was among the highest prices at which onions have ever been bought from farmers.

Deficient Rains Threaten Kharif Crop

Deficient Rains Threaten Kharif Crop

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2023

Any long dry spell could cause moisture stress in the standing crop during the crucial maturing stage and also make it prone to pest and disease attacks.

Break in rains a threat to kharif yield, rabi sowing

Break in rains a threat to kharif yield, rabi sowing

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2023

A prolonged break in monsoon rains in most parts of the country is threatening to hit the yield of kharif crops. It could even delay the upcoming rabi sowing. Major agricultural states, such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Gujarat, have witnessed a deficit of 30-80 per cent in southwest monsoon rainfall in August compared to the long-period average for the month. Meteorologists see no big revival in monsoon rains from hereon, though they forecast "some activity" over the Bay of Bengal on September 5-6.

Pest Attack May Grow If Monsoon Weakens

Pest Attack May Grow If Monsoon Weakens

Rediff.com   1 Sep 2023

Pulses are most vulnerable to pests and diseases if the monsoon remains patchy for the rest of the season.

Bikanervala to go for IPO in next three years

Bikanervala to go for IPO in next three years

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2023

Indian sweet, snack, and restaurant chain group Bikanervala, with revenues of over Rs 3,000 crore, is working towards an initial public offering (IPO) for its food company in the next three years. Before that, it could also bring in private equity (PE) investors. The low-profile Aggarwal family-owned group company, Bikanervala Foods (which also sells under the brand name Bikano), operates in the snack business.

Is the fairy tale of India's sugar sector facing multiple challenges?

Is the fairy tale of India's sugar sector facing multiple challenges?

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2023

The last few years have been uncharacteristically good for the Indian sugar sector for a variety of reasons. While on the one hand, the weather supported good crop production; on the other hand, the programme to blend ethanol with petrol took off in a big way. The long-pending problem of burgeoning sugarcane arrears almost came down to nil and exports boomed to record highs.

Himachal Rain Havoc Devastates Business

Himachal Rain Havoc Devastates Business

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2023

Tourism is badly affected. Entire apple orchards have been washed away. 2 million people are threatened with loss of livelihood.

Govt to procure 200K-tonne onions amid farmer protest

Govt to procure 200K-tonne onions amid farmer protest

Rediff.com   23 Aug 2023

Barely days after imposing a 40 per cent export tax on onions to cool down soaring prices, which, in turn, triggered widespread protests across the main growing belts, the Centre on Tuesday sought to mitigate both political and economic tensions gripping parts of Maharashtra. It decided to procure an additional 200,000 tonnes of onions at Rs 2,410 per quintal for its buffer stock from farmers, a rate that is strikingly close to the price at which they were being exported before the 40 per cent duty was levied on August 19. The export price before the imposition of the duty stood at around $320 per tonne free on board (approximately Rs 2,650 per quintal).

NCDEX, Skymet takes initial steps towards tradeable weather index

NCDEX, Skymet takes initial steps towards tradeable weather index

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2023

India's leading commodity exchange, National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX), and private weather forecasting company Skymet took a significant step towards launching the country's first tradeable weather index on Monday (August 14) by entering into an agreement to deepen their understanding of the impact that weather has on agricultural commodities. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) between NCDEX and Skymet is a profound step in the direction of linking farmers with the weather in a scientific way, according to an official statement. Sources indicate that NCDEX and Skymet will conduct workshops and seminars across the country to educate farmers about how they can scientifically use weather forecasts to hedge risks.