Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Sohini Das

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta &Amp; Sohini Das

Philanthropy by India's super rich falls by a third in FY22, says report

Philanthropy by India's super rich falls by a third in FY22, says report

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2023

Philanthropic contributions made by India's ultra high networth individuals (net wealth of over Rs 1,000 crore), also known as UHNIs, have fallen sharply to Rs 4,230 crore in FY22, from Rs 11,821 crore the previous financial year, according to the India Philanthropy Report 2023 by Dasra and Bain & Co, which was released on Wednesday. The report says that the dramatic fall, almost by a third, was due to the fact that contributions by the Azim Premji Foundation dropped by Rs 9,000 crore due to a share buyback of Wipro, which helped the foundation to access liquidity directly. However, the report laments that even excluding the Premji Foundation's contribution, "Indian UHNI contribution has not kept pace with wealth creation" and is "below par, with a 5 per cent contraction in FY2022".

New bids likely for one vacant slot in advanced cell PLI

New bids likely for one vacant slot in advanced cell PLI

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2023

The government is considering the option of inviting fresh applications to bid for the fourth slot which fell vacant after one of the initial candidates who qualified, Hyundai Global Motors, exited from the production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for advanced chemistry cell battery storage with a capacity of 20 GwH. Earlier, stakeholders had expected that the vacant slot would be offered to waitlisted players ranked on their technical and financial offer. A final decision will be taken soon.

Why GPT App Downloads Are A Concern

Why GPT App Downloads Are A Concern

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2023

How many of the apps downloaded in India deliver the GPT technology they say they are?

Why electric two-wheelers missed the ambitious 1 million sales target

Why electric two-wheelers missed the ambitious 1 million sales target

Rediff.com   1 Mar 2023

With just a month left in this financial year, electric two-wheeler sales, so far, are at just 62 per cent of the ambitious target of 1 million units set for 2022-23 by the NITI Aayog. According to VAHAN data, compiled by the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), 620,006 units of electric two-wheelers were sold across the country in FY23 until February 21. Though the industry may miss the 1-million target, sales in FY23 are already up 146 per cent from 249,621 units sold in FY22.

Coming Soon: Cibil-Like Rating For Drivers

Coming Soon: Cibil-Like Rating For Drivers

Rediff.com   27 Feb 2023

The plan is to offer the ratings of drivers to insurers, which can then customise their premiums -- a higher score meaning a lower premium, for instance, and vice-versa.

With 33% market share, Maruti eyes top slot in SUV space by FY24

With 33% market share, Maruti eyes top slot in SUV space by FY24

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2023

Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) - the market leader in small cars - is eyeing the top spot in the sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment within a year - with a 33 per cent share of the pie. The company has been selling two SUVs - the Brezza and the Grand Vitara - and will start deliveries of the Jimny and the Fronx from March-end, and has set a target of growing its share from the current 11.5 per cent of the SUV market to 33 per cent by the end of 2023-24. The SUV segment is roughly about 42 per cent of the total passenger vehicle market, or around 1.3 million units.

Vi plans to get back in the game but fundraising a challenge

Vi plans to get back in the game but fundraising a challenge

Rediff.com   7 Feb 2023

Vodafone-Idea is working on a multi-pronged strategy to begin its long journey to get back in the game but much hinges on how much money it can raise following the government's decision to go for equity conversion last week. Based on discussions with sources aware of the company developments and with vendors, VIL's immediate plan is to invest in increasing 4G coverage to the level of its competitors. Currently, it covers a 1 billion population with 4G while its competitors cover 1.2 billion people.

Telcos bag 20 mn 5G customers in less than 4 months

Telcos bag 20 mn 5G customers in less than 4 months

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2023

Indian telcos have been able to garner over 20 million 5G customers in less than four months after the official launch of the service last October, according to industry estimates. With telecom operators like Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel aggressively rolling out their 5G services in over 190 cities across the country to date, India is now only behind China and the US in terms of the number of cities in a country where 5G services have been extended. Top executives in telcos say that the number of 5G subscribers in India is a conservative estimate and that it will rise as the roll-out gains momentum.

Finance ministry looks to curb smuggling of top-end mobile phones

Finance ministry looks to curb smuggling of top-end mobile phones

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2023

The finance ministry is looking at a reworked proposal from mobile device makers on how to fight the rampant and growing smuggling of very high end phones. The proposal suggests reducing the basic customs duty (BCD) on phones which have a CIF (cost, insurance and freight or price at landing in the port) value of over Rs 35,000-Rs 40,000. The retail value of these phones is upwards of Rs 70,000.

'A creative mind never ages'

'A creative mind never ages'

Rediff.com   26 Jan 2023

Balkrishna V Doshi, who won the Pritzker Award in 2018 -- which is equivalent to the Nobel Prize in architecture -- passed into the ages this week. Sohini Das recalls an encounter with the the legendary architect, who was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan in this year's Republic Day honours list.

More Women Buy Luxury Cars In Post-pandemic Shift

More Women Buy Luxury Cars In Post-pandemic Shift

Rediff.com   26 Jan 2023

Dealerships, too, are going all out to roll out the red carpet for women.

GM, Ford switch off India ops but unable to exit

GM, Ford switch off India ops but unable to exit

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2023

Both are finding it difficult to sell one each of their plants -- Chennai Maraimalai Nagar (Ford) and Talegaon near Pune (GM) -- and are finding the road blocked by employee severance snarl-ups, report Sohini Das and Shine Jacob.

'None of the existing vaccines can prevent emerging variants of Omicron'

'None of the existing vaccines can prevent emerging variants of Omicron'

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2023

'We seem to be in a situation where we can do little, and nothing needs to be done anyway.'

Indian Spending On Dating Apps Doubles

Indian Spending On Dating Apps Doubles

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2023

The growth in India's spending is far higher than the global average year-on-year increase of 12% for this category of apps in 2022.

Bajaj's e-Chetak to speed into Europe by 2024

Bajaj's e-Chetak to speed into Europe by 2024

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2023

The electric Chetak has already sold close to 25,000 units in India, and the European version will be based on the same platform.

Greaves Mobility joins e-scooter war with Primus prized below Rs 1 lakh

Greaves Mobility joins e-scooter war with Primus prized below Rs 1 lakh

Rediff.com   20 Jan 2023

With its new premium Primus and Ampere NXG, it is targeting buyers seeking a faster and more stylish ride

Why luxury carmakers will see quicker transition to EVs

Why luxury carmakers will see quicker transition to EVs

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2023

While Mercedes-Benz India expects 25 per cent of its India sales to come from EVs in the next four years, BMW says it estimates around 10 per cent of sales to come from those in the near future.

Field testing started for fuel-agnostic engines

Field testing started for fuel-agnostic engines

Rediff.com   19 Jan 2023

Cummins India will soon start producing fuel-agnostic engine systems at the Tata-Cummins plant in Phaltan in Satara district of Maharashtra, senior officials at Cummins India said. The firm will start limited production by the end of 2023 and mass production will likely begin by 2024, the officials said.

Digital Competition Law Worries Big Tech

Digital Competition Law Worries Big Tech

Rediff.com   18 Jan 2023

'The message is not clear whether we are wanted.' 'All this could adversely impact our strategy in India and also investments.'

TCS Evolving Tech For EVs, Self-Driving Cars

TCS Evolving Tech For EVs, Self-Driving Cars

Rediff.com   17 Jan 2023

'While we have done a few thousand kilometres in India, most of the testing and data collection and analysis has been done in the US, Japan and Europe.'