Surajeet Das Gupta, Shine Jacob

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta, Shine Jacob

Walmart boost: India's readymade garment exports limping to normalcy in May

Walmart boost: India's readymade garment exports limping to normalcy in May

Rediff.com   2 Jun 2023

After dipping by as much as 17 per cent in April, readymade garment (RMG) exports of all textile categories in India are showing signs of recovery in May. Exporters in Tiruppur are indicating a rise in rupee terms during the month, while it may take at least a month for volumes to be back in positive terrain. Among the global majors that are placing orders in the textile hub include Walmart, H&M (Hennes & Mauritz AB), Tommy Hilfiger and Target.

Global subsidy race puts a spanner in India's chip manufacturing hopes

Global subsidy race puts a spanner in India's chip manufacturing hopes

Rediff.com   1 Jun 2023

The Indian government is keen to woo major semiconductor players, but a global race to attract them to countries where there is already an ecosystem is making it difficult for India to attract the biggies in the business. On Wednesday the government decided to throw open the doors to more players to participate in its semiconductor scheme. It is now looking at not only 28 nanometre (nm) chips and below, but higher nodes like 40 nm.

Will Apple Do in India What Samsung Did In Vietnam?

Will Apple Do in India What Samsung Did In Vietnam?

Rediff.com   31 May 2023

Apple is hoping to assemble in India 25 per cent of all iPhones produced globally to reduce its heavy dependence on China.

From electronics to semiconductor, MNCs in search of policy stability

From electronics to semiconductor, MNCs in search of policy stability

Rediff.com   29 May 2023

Their favourite alternatives: Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Note, India is missing from that list. And this is despite an attractive financial incentive scheme for OSAT players. The reason, said a senior executive of a US chip company who had a meeting in Taiwan just a few weeks ago, is that "they want more predictability in government policy because they plan to put in big money."

'Our aim is to encourage global companies to shift to India from China'

'Our aim is to encourage global companies to shift to India from China'

Rediff.com   29 May 2023

'I was in the US, where I met top executives of HP and Dell, and they are very keen to come to India.' 'Acer and ASUS have also evinced interest.'

PC shipments fell by 30% in Q1, notebooks fared the worst

PC shipments fell by 30% in Q1, notebooks fared the worst

Rediff.com   24 May 2023

The India personal computer (PC) market shipment, inclusive of desktops, notebooks, and workstations, dropped by an overall 30.1 per cent in the first quarter of CY2023 over the previous year, to only 2.99 million units, according to the latest data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Personal Computing Device Tracker released on Tuesday. In Q1CY23, while the demand for desktops was positive, the notebook category witnessed another weak quarter as it declined by 40.8 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y). The consumer segment declined by 36.1 per cent y-o-y primarily due to slowing demand and weak market sentiment.

Sustainable fashion gets thrown a life jacket after PM wears upcycled sadri

Sustainable fashion gets thrown a life jacket after PM wears upcycled sadri

Rediff.com   19 May 2023

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi has been at the forefront of climate action and saving the environment campaigns - whether plogging at a beach in Mahabalipuram in 2019 or wearing a sky-blue 'sadri' jacket to Parliament made of material recycled from plastic bottles. Made by Karur-based sustainable fashion brand EcoLine Clothing (EcoLine), a brand of Shree Renga Polymers, front runner in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle recycling and sustainable textiles in India run by IITians, the company recycles PET bottles and upcycles them into value-added products, such as garments. Three months on, the phone lines of Senthil Sankar, managing partner at Shree Renga Polymers and EcoLine, have been ringing non-stop since the jacket made out of recycled plastic at Karur, Tamil Nadu's textile capital, was worn by the PM to Parliament on February 8.

Tesla may be revving up interest in India, again

Tesla may be revving up interest in India, again

Rediff.com   17 May 2023

Senior Tesla executives including those from its supply chain are planning to come to India on Wednesday and Thursday for meetings with government officials, including those in the Prime Minister's Office, according to sources. Prashant R Menon, director of Tesla India, did not respond to a specific query on the meetings. Sources say that the executives are coming to see how they can expand and develop local sourcing of components from India for the Tesla car.

Why Apple Wants Indian Workers To Work Longer Hours

Why Apple Wants Indian Workers To Work Longer Hours

Rediff.com   15 May 2023

India's stiff labour laws were one key issue that Apple CEO Tim Cook discussed with Prime Minister Modi on his recent visit.

India's Chip Dreams Won't Happen Unless...

India's Chip Dreams Won't Happen Unless...

Rediff.com   15 May 2023

OSAT majors have concerns about India's ability to provide a stable, predictable, and lasting policy environment for years to come, which is key for making a decision in a capital-intensive business.

Electronics manufacturing gets a reality check; only $225 bn value by FY26

Electronics manufacturing gets a reality check; only $225 bn value by FY26

Rediff.com   4 May 2023

The government's ambitious vision document that aims at achieving electronics manufacturing with a value of $300 billion by FY26 (including exports of $105-130 billion) could end up far lower than the target, according to a reality check this month. The reality check came from the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA), which partnered with the government in preparing the document. The members of the ICEA are mobile and electronics companies, and its assessment, based on current trends, indicates that the total electronics production in FY26 will be around $225 billion.

Stalin's Breakfast Scheme A Social Revolution

Stalin's Breakfast Scheme A Social Revolution

Rediff.com   3 May 2023

'Within a short span, it increased attendance, improved children's physical fitness, and led to a rise in the enrolment ratio.'

Govt set to approve Micron Technology's $1-billion semiconductor plant

Govt set to approve Micron Technology's $1-billion semiconductor plant

Rediff.com   2 May 2023

The government is close to approving a proposal by Micron Technology to set up an assembly, testing, marking and packaging (ATMP) facility in the country involving an investment of about $1 billion. The world's fifth largest semiconductor company, based in Idaho, USA, will use the facility to process some of its own wafers, manufactured across the globe.

Why Telcos Want Airlines To Replace Altimeters

Why Telcos Want Airlines To Replace Altimeters

Rediff.com   2 May 2023

'If the airlines are not given a clear deadline to change the altimeters by the DGCA, why should they do it voluntarily?' 'It means that the aircraft will be grounded for a while and lose money.'

Electric two-wheeler sales skid by a fourth

Electric two-wheeler sales skid by a fourth

Rediff.com   1 May 2023

Stung by the government's punitive action on electric two-wheelers, registrations in April fell by nearly a fourth to 62,581 from 82,292 in March, according to data from VAHAN. Electric two-wheeler companies, including Okinawa, Hero Electric, Ather Energy, and TVS, have all clocked their lowest registrations in the four months of this calendar year. Ola Electric has been the only exception to this bloodbath, and has crossed its March numbers, hitting 21,560 registrations in April, which is its highest in this calendar year. As a result, there have been some interesting changes in the electric two-wheeler pecking order.

Electric 2-wheeler players take on heavy industries dept on FAME 2

Electric 2-wheeler players take on heavy industries dept on FAME 2

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2023

Companies making electric two-wheelers, through their association Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV), have taken on the Department of Heavy Industries (DHI), saying they did not get subsidies for even half the mandated 1 million units they manufactured. Subsidies are given under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles 2 (FAME II). In a petition to the parliamentary standing committee on industry energy and estimates, the SMEV said the department had done an "accounting error" by showing that it (the department) was close to achieving the mandated target by including sales of the EVs that were "not funded" under the scheme.

Like Uber, You Can Book A Drone Soon

Like Uber, You Can Book A Drone Soon

Rediff.com   25 Apr 2023

E-commerce players may soon rent out drones, so you can use them the way you book a cab on an app, and test viable use-cases for last-mile delivery.

Sky is the limit for private space sector in Isro's new policy

Sky is the limit for private space sector in Isro's new policy

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2023

The Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) on Thursday came out with the Indian Space Policy 2023 to promote greater private sector participation in the entire value chain of the space economy. According to the policy, Isro will encourage new-generation entities to participate in space exploration and human presence in outer space, including collaboration with domestic and international stakeholders. The policy also sets a road map for Isro to transition from manufacturing operational space systems to focus energies on research and development in advanced technologies.

Has Apple's Roller-Coaster Ride In India Ended?

Has Apple's Roller-Coaster Ride In India Ended?

Rediff.com   21 Apr 2023

The new mantra was to align Apple's ambition with the government's, focusing on Modi's favourite themes of Make in India, employment generation and India as a high-tech export hub.

In a first, Kerala adopts water budget to tackle shortage

In a first, Kerala adopts water budget to tackle shortage

Rediff.com   19 Apr 2023

Kerala on Monday became the first state to adopt a water budget in a bid to come up with a solution to water scarcity in certain regions there. The first phase of the project would cover 94 gram panchayats and 15 block panchayats. The Public Water Budget was released by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday, along with the launch of the third phase of the Ini Njan Ozhukatte (Let me flow now) project, for the rehabilitation of irrigation networks in the Western Ghats.