Surajeet Das Gupta, Gyan Verma, Viveat Susan Pinto

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta, Gyan Verma, Viveat Susan Pinto

April likely to be a washout for appliances as fresh Covid-19 curbs hit biz

April likely to be a washout for appliances as fresh Covid-19 curbs hit biz

Rediff.com   22 Apr 2021

Maharashtra, which contributes between 12 and 15 per cent of appliances sales, announced lockdown-like curbs, meaning there will be no business for the second half of the month as well from the state.

'Covid or not, show must go on'

'Covid or not, show must go on'

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2021

'Post-Covid world will be different from the pre-Covid world.'

Bird Group's ambitious plan to grab Air India's ground handling arm

Bird Group's ambitious plan to grab Air India's ground handling arm

Rediff.com   16 Apr 2021

The promoter-brothers, distant cousins to IndiGo's Rahul Bhatia, are eyeing Air India's ground handling subsidiary to augment their aviation services business even as they make a big play in EVs.

Maha curfew: 50% factories may remain shut for next fortnight

Maha curfew: 50% factories may remain shut for next fortnight

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2021

According to the order, all factories producing essential goods and services will remain operational at full capacity.

India, China border spat: Bird group's EV hatchback plans in limbo

India, China border spat: Bird group's EV hatchback plans in limbo

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2021

The car was expected to have a price tag of Rs 10 lakh and launch was slated for this June.

Will Xiaomi disrupt India's e-scooter market?

Will Xiaomi disrupt India's e-scooter market?

Rediff.com   10 Apr 2021

Known for its phones and emerging from nowhere in the segment, it might take on the scooter Goliaths.

'Next financial year will be much better'

'Next financial year will be much better'

Rediff.com   9 Apr 2021

'Revival is happening slowly.' 'But that is, if the pandemic is controlled.'

Mobile phone makers want relaxation under PLI scheme

Mobile phone makers want relaxation under PLI scheme

Rediff.com   5 Apr 2021

In a communication to the empowered committee on PLI recently, the Indian Cellular & Electronics Association (ICEA) has stated that except one player (Samsung), all the other eight players (which include vendors of Apple Inc) selected under the scheme were facing numerous challenges in fulfilling the qualification criteria.

Can Ola disrupt India's e-scooter market?

Can Ola disrupt India's e-scooter market?

Rediff.com   28 Mar 2021

As a tech services company, Ola has never been in hardcore manufacturing. And unlike in ride hailing, which is a two-player market (Uber is the only other competitor), in two-wheelers it faces many entrenched players. But most of all, rivals say Ola's targets are out of sync with most, even ambitious, projections.

IPL 2021: Star Sports hopes to earn Rs 32 billion

IPL 2021: Star Sports hopes to earn Rs 32 billion

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2021

Disney-Star generated advertising revenue of over Rs 27 billion for IPL 2020.

Amul to start making buffalo mozzarella cheese

Amul to start making buffalo mozzarella cheese

Rediff.com   18 Mar 2021

Italy may be the home of premium buffalo mozzarella cheese, but India could soon give the country a run for its money in this regard. India's largest dairy cooperative, Amul, has submitted a plan to the government, aiming to turn the country into a global hub for the export of mozzarella cheese made from buffalo milk, which is sold at a hefty premium around the world. Mozzarella cheese is one of the products identified by the government for support under its Rs 10,900 crore production-linked incentive scheme (PLI), to give a massive push to food processing exports as well as to build Indian food brands.

Private philanthropy outstripped corporate largesse by 42% in FY20

Private philanthropy outstripped corporate largesse by 42% in FY20

Rediff.com   17 Mar 2021

Individuals flew the flag for philanthropy in FY20, escalating their contribution significantly in comparison with company and foreign fund donations, according to the Dasra/Bain & Co India Philanthropy Report of 2021. Funding by individual philanthropists went up by 42 per cent from Rs 21,000 crore in FY19 to Rs 30,000 crore in FY20.

Atmanirbhar and PLI: Why Modi's ambitious manufacturing targets are unachievable

Atmanirbhar and PLI: Why Modi's ambitious manufacturing targets are unachievable

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2021

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met over 40 CEOs across broad swathes of industry, ranging from makers of mobile devices, auto components, food products to telecom networking equipment and pharmaceuticals. The agenda: To discuss how to make India an integral part of the global supply chain. The focus of the discussion would be the much touted yet not so well understood production-linked incentive scheme (PLI), the centrepiece of the government's drive to massively boost the manufacturing sector. To do so, the government has created a war chest of over Rs 197,000 crore to be paid out as incentives to over 14 industries in five years. There are three objectives to the scheme, two explicitly stated, one implied.

India Inc opens up purse for employee retention

India Inc opens up purse for employee retention

Rediff.com   26 Feb 2021

Employees of some top Indian companies were in for a pleasant surprise when they received a mail from their HR team announcing a hike in salaries and bonuses. Led by IT firms and start-ups, HR managers say that while some have offered cash and stock options, others are in a wait-and-watch mode and add the trend will pick up in other sectors. For example, IT giant Cognizant - which had an attrition rate of 19 per cent in the December quarter - has established a $30-million employee retention fund in order to bring down the high attrition rate.

Over 10 Indian start-ups may mop up at least $10 billion in IPO rush

Over 10 Indian start-ups may mop up at least $10 billion in IPO rush

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2021

Over 10 Indian start-ups with total valuations of $84 billion (some are planning fresh fund-raising) are bracing to launch initial public offerings (IPOs) in the next 36 months. While the size of their IPOs is under discussion, estimates are that they would together raise a minimum of over $8-10 billion during the initial listing.

Six years after Maggi controversy, Marico serves up instant noodles

Six years after Maggi controversy, Marico serves up instant noodles

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2021

The move is significant since it signals the growing importance of foods in Marico's overall strategy. It also comes six months after Marico stepped into honey, a Rs 1,500-crore category dominated by players such as Dabur.

Will IPL 2021 set a new record for Star Sports?

Will IPL 2021 set a new record for Star Sports?

Rediff.com   18 Feb 2021

IPL 2020 was the first sports tournament to surpass 400 billion viewing minutes.

Has India lost out in the global 5G race?

Has India lost out in the global 5G race?

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2021

Several factors have held India back. One is DoT policy somersaults and lack of clarity on whether to or not to ban Chinese gear makers.

Airtel and Jio go head to head in battle for 5G

Airtel and Jio go head to head in battle for 5G

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2021

The Big Two telecom companies have accelerated their moves towards this next-gen technology, though they have chosen very different routes to getting there.

'There is pent-up demand for good films'

'There is pent-up demand for good films'

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2021

Increase in occupancy will pave way for Hindi blockbusters to release, say multiplex operators.