Surajeet Das Gupta, Shine Jacob

Stories by Surajeet Das Gupta, Shine Jacob

Without govt's help, 25% retailers may have to down shutters

Without govt's help, 25% retailers may have to down shutters

Rediff.com   8 Apr 2020

The sobering news is that retailers - including big firms like Reliance Retail - and exhibitors are contemplating issuing force majeure notices to shopping malls and real estate owners, and are in discussions with them to formulate an action plan for sharing the financial burden of the lockdown.

'Lockdown should be extended for another 15 days'

'Lockdown should be extended for another 15 days'

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2020

'In the first phase, you might allow 30 per cent of the workforce to come in and see how it goes,' says industrialist Harsh Goenka.

In essential items, e-commerce is no match to kirana stores

In essential items, e-commerce is no match to kirana stores

Rediff.com   1 Apr 2020

Despite the failure of most e-commerce players to meet orders through the first week of the lockdown, there has been no serious crisis, thanks to supplies from 11 million small kirana and mom-and-pop stores across the country with the support of over 300,000 distributors and wholesalers.

'It is bound to be a slow and strained recovery'

'It is bound to be a slow and strained recovery'

Rediff.com   31 Mar 2020

'When 99.9 per cent of the most vulnerable are above 65, I see no logic in this sweeping lockdown in a country in which 94 per cent are below 65.' 'The most sensible thing to do would be to recalibrate this unnecessary lockdown as soon as possible.'

The murky trail of Rana Kapoor's firm DOIT

The murky trail of Rana Kapoor's firm DOIT

Rediff.com   24 Mar 2020

DOIT is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Morgan Credits in which Rana Kapoor's daughters Radha, Roshini and Raakhe, are directors. In 2018-19, the company incurred a net loss of Rs 48.76 crore on revenues of Rs 59 crore - a sharp contrast to 2017-18 when it had profits of Rs 2.7 crore on revenues of Rs 43 crore. To fund these aggressive investments into its subsidiaries in 2018-19, DOIT used debt which doubled to Rs 600 crore in 2018-19 from the previous year.

ISPs find work-from-home has boosted demand for data

ISPs find work-from-home has boosted demand for data

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2020

Feedback from telecom members indicated a 10 per cent increase in traffic, but no fears of choked networks. Telcos currently use 65-70 per cent of the network capacity. In other words, they have enough additional capacity to handle the new pressure without clogging the system.

Govt to offload entire BPCL stake valued at Rs 46,300 cr

Govt to offload entire BPCL stake valued at Rs 46,300 cr

Rediff.com   8 Mar 2020

The sale is key to meeting the government's disinvestment target of Rs 2.1 trillion in the financial year 2020-21. So far, the disinvestment exercise has fetched the government Rs 34,845 crore during the current financial year.

ONGC seeks new petroleum exploration licence

ONGC seeks new petroleum exploration licence

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2020

RIL and Shell ceased production from the fields in 2016, and ONGC has already been using Tapti infrastructure for its other fields for better optimisation.

New technology adds zing to Indian Railways

New technology adds zing to Indian Railways

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2020

Globally, London's Tube and French railway networks are already using this technology in their corrosion-prone areas.

Ambani vs Chandra: Media convergence set for a new game

Ambani vs Chandra: Media convergence set for a new game

Rediff.com   28 Feb 2020

In terms of market capitalisation, Zee alone has a market cap of Rs 24,000 crore compared to Rs 15,000 crore of the merged Reliance entity.

Google to wind down free WiFi services globally

Google to wind down free WiFi services globally

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2020

Google had started the Station as a five-year partnership with the Indian Railways and RailTel in 2015 to provide fast, free WiFi in over 400 stations by mid-2020.

The billion-dollar question before Vodafone Group

The billion-dollar question before Vodafone Group

Rediff.com   24 Feb 2020

Based on Statista data for 2019, Vodafone has 17.2 million subscribers in the UK, 29.5 million in Germany, and over 13.7 million in Spain. Without Voda Idea, the Group will become smaller than Airtel and Jio.

What consolidation of telcos mean for the customers

What consolidation of telcos mean for the customers

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2020

The Indian market is more in sync with mobile markets of advanced countries like the UK, Japan, and South Korea, where there are fewer players - three to four.

Telcos, DoT discuss part paying AGR ahead of SC ruling

Telcos, DoT discuss part paying AGR ahead of SC ruling

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2020

The companies have offered to pay upfront the principal amount due for licence fees and spectrum usage charges (SUCs) on the basis of adjusted gross revenue (AGR). This amount will not include the interest, the penalty, and the interest on the penalty.

The little-known company that's buying up distressed telcos

The little-known company that's buying up distressed telcos

Rediff.com   24 Jan 2020

UV Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd has made the highest bid of Rs 16,000 crore to buy Anil Ambani group's Reliance Communications and Reliance Telecom, which are in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Last year it was the highest bidder for taking over Aircel's assets for an upfront payment of Rs 150 crore. Surajeet Das Gupta and Dev Chatterjee dig deeper to find out more about this little known company.

Why Yes Bank audit committee chief quit

Why Yes Bank audit committee chief quit

Rediff.com   13 Jan 2020

Uttam Prakash Agarwal alleged that Citax and Braich offers were incomplete and did not include firm commitment as to the price, size, timings, confirmation from the banks about availability of the funds.

Spike in oil prices a temporary phase

Spike in oil prices a temporary phase

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2020

Oil prices jumped nearly $3 a barrel and gold and safe-haven bonds rallied on Friday after the killing of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in an airstrike by the US in Baghdad.

Will the West Coast refinery take off?

Will the West Coast refinery take off?

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2020

BPCL's impending privatisation and RIL's stake sale to Saudi Aramco raise questions about the future of the West Coast Refinery, once touted as the world's largest.

Will Indian Railways be privatised?

Will Indian Railways be privatised?

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2019

Railways to hive off all production units and workshops into new govt-owned company; may invite bids from private players to run passenger trains in next 15 days, with ownership vesting with the government.