Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Sapna Dogra Singh In New Delhi

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Sapna Dogra Singh In New Delhi

DoT may ring in up to 12 operators for 3G

DoT may ring in up to 12 operators for 3G

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2009

The sole exception would be the Rajasthan circle (which can accommodate only two operators). The West Bengal and North-East circles would be able to accommodate only four operators. The numbers are based on the latest note prepared by the DoT. The availability of spectrum is a key element that determines the auction price of spectrum. Higher availability means a lower price.

Now, DEA questions Press Notes 2 & 4

Now, DEA questions Press Notes 2 & 4

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2009

For the second time since Press Note 2 and 4 were issued in February 2009, the Department of Economic Affairs in the finance ministry has raised questions on their implementation, this time over an application before the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.

Novartis may revise open offer price

Novartis may revise open offer price

Rediff.com   28 May 2009

The company is likely to increase buy-back offer from Rs 351 to Rs 425-450. The open offer price is likely to be revised from the earlier Rs 351 to between Rs 425 and Rs 450, as the current share prices of Novartis India are above the present open offer price, the sources added.

Plan to divest 10% in BSNL may be revived

Plan to divest 10% in BSNL may be revived

Rediff.com   21 May 2009

The BSNL board had last year approved a plan under which the government would divest 10 per cent of its shares to the public. But opposition from the unions backed by the Left parties -- which supported the United Progressive Alliance in the last Parliament -- had stalled the process. That opposition has abated, now that the Left is no longer a factor in the current ruling alliance.

Competition watchdog operational from today

Competition watchdog operational from today

Rediff.com   20 May 2009

Two sections of the Competition Act still to be notified.

Only 10 firms board LLP bus

Only 10 firms board LLP bus

Rediff.com   19 May 2009

A month after the government allowed registration of Limited Liability Partnerships, only 10 firms have availed this new form of doing business that provides advantages of a partnership firm and also a corporation. This is because the government is yet to notify key sections (Sections 55 to 58) of the law that would enable conversion of a partnership firm, private company or unlisted public company into an LLP.

Bharti Airtel's big dream

Bharti Airtel's big dream

Rediff.com   18 May 2009

It's celebration time for Bharti Airtel, which last week became the third telecom brand in the world to cross the magic 100 million-subscriber mark in a single country. The gap between Airtel and its nearest competitor, Vodafone, is now about 26 million subscribers.

Your air ticket will get cheaper

Your air ticket will get cheaper

Rediff.com   14 May 2009

Jet Airways, Kingfisher shift flights to low-cost platforms; experts expect a fare war. "Every year, airlines come up with cheap fares in the summer season, but not like this year. I had never seen airlines offering 50 per cent cash-back offers. Now with Jet Konnect and Kingfisher Red, there are more flights to the routes where LCCs used to dominate," says Bhawna Agarwal, co-founder and head of air business, Yatra.com.

CAs beat slowdown blues with high placements

CAs beat slowdown blues with high placements

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

Beating the slowdown, chartered accountants (CAs) have bagged jobs with top-notch companies in the latest campus placement drive, which has also seen more newly qualified professionals get jobs.

Maytas Infra to raise Rs 800-1,000 crore

Maytas Infra to raise Rs 800-1,000 crore

Rediff.com   6 May 2009

Maytas Infrastructure Ltd, the listed company floated by the promoters of Satyam Computer Services, plans to raise Rs 800 crore to Rs 1,000 crore through asset sales plus loan and guarantees from banks to complete various projects, including the prestigious Hyderabad Metro, and to bid for some new projects that are coming up for auction.

Govt may raise viability funding for NHDP 5

Govt may raise viability funding for NHDP 5

Rediff.com   4 May 2009

The government has decided to raise the viability gap funding (VGF) for certain projects under the fifth phase of the National Highway Development Project (NHDP V), owing to poor response to the first few projects put up for bids in December last year.

Reliance Big TV plans to divest 49% in DTH arm

Reliance Big TV plans to divest 49% in DTH arm

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2009

To expand its services in the five-player private direct-to-home market, Reliance Big TV Ltd, the promoter of Big TV DTH services of the Reliance ADA Group, plans to sell up to 49 per cent to foreign private equity companies and global DTH players.

Why Air India chief lost his job

Why Air India chief lost his job

Rediff.com   27 Apr 2009

With Arvind Jadhav, principal secretary, in the department of infrastructure development of the Karnataka government, emerging as the frontrunner in the race to replace Raghu Menon as the chairman and managing director of the state-owned National Aviation Company of India Ltd (Nacil), which runs Air India, informed sources said Menon lost the coveted job because of his opposition to the airline's proposed joint venture with Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS).

Net direct tax receipts likely to post 10% growth

Net direct tax receipts likely to post 10% growth

Rediff.com   24 Apr 2009

"Since December last year, we started focusing on TDS and regular assessment to increase tax collections, and it has paid off," said a senior revenue department official. According to the latest data, TDS collections increased by 25 per cent to Rs 1,304.56 billion in fiscal 2009, compared to Rs 1,046.95 billion in the previous fiscal. However, advance tax collections under two major heads -- corporation tax and income tax -- dipped by 7 per cent to around Rs 1,680 billion.

Maytas has no land bank, claims government

Maytas has no land bank, claims government

Rediff.com   18 Apr 2009

He went on to explain that it is standard practice for developers to have development agreements under which the land-owner cannot sell his land to any other entity or individual.

Govt to ensure Satyam flock stays intact

Govt to ensure Satyam flock stays intact

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2009

The agreement with the new owners of Satyam Computer Services will incorporate restrictions to prevent mass retrenchment of employees, according to a top functionary of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA).

What's in a name? Money!

What's in a name? Money!

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2009

You can make millions, if you are a celebrity and are willing to license your name to other people's business ventures.

Chennai tops in mobile penetration

Chennai tops in mobile penetration

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2009

Mumbai is a distant number two with 90 per cent, followed by Delhi at 83 per cent. The fourth metro, Kolkata, is way behind with 67 per cent. The four metros account for 16 per cent of the country's mobile subscriber base, but 25 per cent of the total revenue. That means their residents use their phones more and pay fatter bills than subscribers elsewhere in the country. This is the user profile that rings a bell for mobile phone marketers.

Satyam: Serious fraud investigation report in

Satyam: Serious fraud investigation report in

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2009

The government, on January 13, had initiated an SFIO probe into various corporate aspects of the fraud under Section 235 of the Companies Act after getting a report from the registrar of companies, Andhra Pradesh. "The report was submitted to the government on Monday night," said a senior corporate affairs ministry official who declined to reveal the contents of the report.

Maruti to launch hybrid cars in 3 to 5 years

Maruti to launch hybrid cars in 3 to 5 years

Rediff.com   13 Apr 2009

Maruti Suzuki, India's largest car company by sales, is working on an ambitious plan to launch electric cars and compressed natural gas variants for three or four models in the domestic market.