Surajeet Das Gupta And Neha Alawadhi

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta And Neha Alawadhi

Meet the man behind CoinDCX, India's first crypto unicorn

Meet the man behind CoinDCX, India's first crypto unicorn

Rediff.com   16 Sep 2021

A large part of the work that CEO Sumit Gupta does is focused on educating users and the larger community about investing in cryptocurrencies, reports Neha Alawadhi.

Qualcomm's chips to power Ola's electric scooters

Qualcomm's chips to power Ola's electric scooters

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2021

From powering mobile devices, US chip designer Qualcomm has tied up with Ola Electric to power its electric scooters. Qualcomm is providing the key 4G connected octa core android platform which provides connectivity, computing capabilities and enables rich immersive displays with power saving software.

Fed up with WFH, Indian professionals want to return to office

Fed up with WFH, Indian professionals want to return to office

Rediff.com   15 Sep 2021

One in three professionals in India is burnt out due to increased workload and stress, as the pandemic forces them to work remotely, even as the majority of the workforce feels they would want to return to work in some form, a study by professional network LinkedIn has found. LinkedIn on Tuesday launched findings of the "Future of Work" perception study by research firm Censuswide that focuses on the insights of 1,108 respondents in the age group of 16 to 68, who have worked from home during the pandemic due to Covid-19 restrictions. The survey captures the sentiment of the Indian workforce towards the impact of remote work, their plans to return to work, and work model preferences for the future.

Tesla plans fully-owned retail outlets in India

Tesla plans fully-owned retail outlets in India

Rediff.com   14 Sep 2021

Palo Alto-based electric carmaker Tesla has initiated talks with the government on the modalities of setting up fully-owned retail outlets. The company needs to comply with the foreign direct investment (FDI) guidelines related to single-brand retail, including local sourcing norms, to sell directly in India. At least two other foreign majors - Apple and Ikea - were engaged in talks with the government long before the sourcing norms were eased under the single-brand retail route.

Siliguri-based hotelier moves SC against Oyo for unfair practices

Siliguri-based hotelier moves SC against Oyo for unfair practices

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2021

A Siliguri-based hotelier has challenged a National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) ruling that closed insolvency proceedings against OYO and one of its units, in the Supreme Court. The hearing is scheduled for September 13 before a two-judge Bench. Oyo did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Airtel takes a leaf out of Jio as telecom battle intensifies

Airtel takes a leaf out of Jio as telecom battle intensifies

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2021

When, recently, Bharti Airtel announced a Rs 21,000 crore rights issue, analysts pointed out that its structure was similar to that of Reliance's issue in June 2020. One similarity is that shareholders in both companies have to pay only 25 per cent of the money on application. The rest is to be paid in two tranches. In Bharti Airtel's case, it is within 36 months; in Reliance Jio's, it is within 17 months.

HOTTEST Skills At Campus Placements

HOTTEST Skills At Campus Placements

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2021

'We are anticipating that the hiring trend will continue to see double-digit growth at least for the current financial year.'

'Made in India' iPhones make Apple's 70% India sales

'Made in India' iPhones make Apple's 70% India sales

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2021

In a major push towards 'Make in India', Apple Inc is manufacturing 70 per cent of the mobile phones, in value terms, that it sells in the domestic market, in India, according to sources aware of the development. This is a sharp rise from the figure of 30 per cent just two years ago and marks a major shift in Apple's strategy following the government's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme that kicked off in FY'21. One of Apple's three vendors here, Foxconn, is currently manufacturing the best-selling model, the Apple 11, along with the Apple 10 and the Apple 12. Another contract manufacturer, Wistron, makes the Apple SE 2020. (The third, Pegatron, has yet to start production). The only models that are imported (they have limited volumes but high value) are the Apple 12 Pro and Pro Max.

Snapdeal plans $350-400 million IPO, eyes $2.5 billion valuation

Snapdeal plans $350-400 million IPO, eyes $2.5 billion valuation

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2021

JM Financial, Axis Bank, and Bank of America have been roped in as the bankers to run the mandate, say sources.

Twitter testing feature to auto block abusive accounts

Twitter testing feature to auto block abusive accounts

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2021

With this feature, tweets found by the microblogging platform's technology to be harmful or uninvited will be autoblocked. This implies that that such profiles will temporarily be unable to follow an account, see their tweets, or send them direct messages.

China's tech crackdown may be good news for Indian start-ups

China's tech crackdown may be good news for Indian start-ups

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2021

The Chinese government is imposing severe restrictions on their tech companies - whether it is on data security, marketing practices or floating an IPO. Should this be music to the ears of Indian start-ups and home-grown private equity (PE) funds? Ask Indian start-ups and the answer is a resounding "yes".

WhatsApp banned 3m Indian accounts, says 2nd compliance report

WhatsApp banned 3m Indian accounts, says 2nd compliance report

Rediff.com   1 Sep 2021

Indian accounts, identified by the "+91" in their mobile numbers, were actioned through WhatsApp's prevention and detection methods, for violating either the laws of India or the company's Terms of Service, the firm said in its compliance report.

What if Vodafone Idea shuts shop?

What if Vodafone Idea shuts shop?

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2021

Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel have enough capacity to absorb over 113.9 million Vodafone Idea subscribers who are on 4G if Vodafone Idea has to shut operations.

Govt stands to lose whether it saves debt-laden Vodafone Idea or not

Govt stands to lose whether it saves debt-laden Vodafone Idea or not

Rediff.com   12 Aug 2021

The government will have to make substantial payments, as well as forego revenues in FY'23, if it wants to work on the survival of Vodafone Idea because it will have to extend the same incentives to the entire telecom sector. According to estimates, the industry has to spend around Rs 21,000-Rs 25,000 crore for spectrum which it bought on a deferred payment basis. Vodafone Idea has asked for a moratorium for another year (FY23). If granted, the government will have foregone the instalment payout for a third year in a row as it has already provided a moratorium for two years, giving telcos Rs 42,000 crore worth of relief.

Ed-tech giant Byju's eyes $1 billion revenue in US by 2024

Ed-tech giant Byju's eyes $1 billion revenue in US by 2024

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2021

Byju's has quietly moved into other global markets such as the UK, Australia and New Zealand. It recently launched operations in Latin America.

Hindujas sell health care unit to Baring Private Equity for $1.2 billion

Hindujas sell health care unit to Baring Private Equity for $1.2 billion

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2021

Hinduja Group's business process management entity, Hinduja Global Solutions Limited (HGS) said on Wednesday that it has entered into definitive agreements to divest its Healthcare Services business to funds affiliated with Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA), at an enterprise value of $1.2 bilion. The deal is subject to closing adjustments, and is expected to complete within 90 days, subject to shareholder and other regulatory approvals. "The cash that will come in as a result of this transaction will be deployed to growing the business as well as looking at buying some capabilities...where capabilities are important for being able to do a good job of customer experience transformation.

How Tatas plan to grab the $100 billion-plus global 5G market

How Tatas plan to grab the $100 billion-plus global 5G market

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2021

The Tata group's tryst with mobile services, with either CDMA or GSM technology, did not really fly, forcing it to close operations and write off losses. Now the group is back in the big game, this time straddling the telecom equipment, network and technology space in India as well as the global market. To this end, it is leveraging the opportunities that flow from 5G technology through open radio access network, or O-RAN. Recently, the Tata Sons' subsidiary Panatone Finvest acquired 43.3 per cent in Bengaluru-based telecom equipment manufacturer Tejas Network for Rs 1,850 crore and announced it would buy another 26 per cent of the voting capital through an open offer.

Meet C Vijayakumar, Shiv Nadar's successor at HCL Tech

Meet C Vijayakumar, Shiv Nadar's successor at HCL Tech

Rediff.com   9 Aug 2021

C Vijayakumar, the reticent chief executive of HCL Technologies, India's third-largest IT services firm, was recently appointed managing director, succeeding the founder, Shiv Nadar. Back in October 2016, when CVK, as he is popularly called within and outside of HCL, was named CEO, it had been somewhat of a surprise - his elevation being the result of his predecessor, Anant Gupta, suddenly stepping down to "pursue personal interests". CVK, 53, has since taken the firm from under $7 billion to over $10 billion in revenue.

IMD may deploy cutting-edge tech to forecast weather accurately

IMD may deploy cutting-edge tech to forecast weather accurately

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2021

IMD has decided to increasingly use cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in forecasting, both to avoid such glitches and to counter the disruption of normal seasonal patterns as a result of climate change. It has formed various internal sub-groups of senior officials and meteorologists to decide on how best to use AI and ML in predicting cyclone intensity, and in making short-range weather forecasts (those valid for up to three hours) as well as long-range forecasts.

Private Equity Funds toy with Exit via SPACs

Private Equity Funds toy with Exit via SPACs

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2021

Discussion has started between blank check companies in the US and Indian PEs on possible deals in certain key sectors.