T E Narasimhan And Kalpana Pathak

Stories by T E Narasimhan And Kalpana Pathak

RIL to pump out K-G gas in a month

RIL to pump out K-G gas in a month

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2009

RIL has been using gas from GAIL during the past three months to test-fire the 1,440-km east-west pipeline, India's longest, from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh to Bharuch in Gujarat. Only 100 km of the pipeline remains to be test-fired. It will transport gas from the world's largest gas discovery at the Krishna-Godavari basin in the Bay of Bengal to Jamnagar in Gujarat, where it has set up the world's largest petroleum refinery.

B-schools to hike number of seats

B-schools to hike number of seats

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2009

Despite a troubled job market that could continue for another year or more, many B-schools are looking at expanding the number of seats by up to 50 per cent and launching new programmes. B-schools maintain the demand for good students will remain even in a troubled job market and the student pool and programme portfolio need to be expanded. "Besides, when these students pass out in the next two years, the market will be better," said a director from one of the institutes.

Placement woes: IIMs seek new strategies

Placement woes: IIMs seek new strategies

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2009

The options include doing away with Day Zero and reducing placement fees. Day Zero is the name given to the day placements begin at the IIMs. Day Zero and Day One are reserved for top companies and placement fees are higher on these days. In good times, most students are placed on these days, leaving the smaller companies to return empty-handed.

Subhiksha's bank account to be attached

Subhiksha's bank account to be attached

Rediff.com   10 Mar 2009

A senior EPFO official said, "(Subhiksha) was given 15 days, starting February 20, to pay the PF dues. Since these were not paid, we will go ahead with the action and set a target to collect the dues before March 31, 2009, when the fiscal year comes to an end." The PF dues to be paid for the June-September period of 2008 were around Rs 1.46 crore. The status of Subhiksha's PF payments in other parts of the country will also be checked.

'7 nuclear reactors to be ready by Sept 2010'

'7 nuclear reactors to be ready by Sept 2010'

Rediff.com   9 Mar 2009

Baldev Raj, scientist and director, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, said the current installed nuclear power generation capacity is likely to increase five-fold to 25,000 Mwe by 2050 from the current 3,900 Mwe. The proposed expansion would require over Rs 125,000 crore. Nuclear power accounts for 3 per cent of India's total electricity generation and is estimated to go up to 25 per cent in 2050.

Cash-strapped firms seek to farm out oil blocks

Cash-strapped firms seek to farm out oil blocks

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2009

Falling crude prices and the global credit crunch have jeopardised India's efforts to attract more investment in oil exploration and production, with several domestic and international companies opting to sell part of their participating interest in E&P projects. Around half-a-dozen companies are currently in talks with exploration and production majors -- mainly state-owned Oil India and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation -- to farm out part of their stakes.

8 in race for city gas distribution

8 in race for city gas distribution

Rediff.com   4 Mar 2009

Eight companies are in the fray for rolling out gas networks in six cities, bids for which were invited by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board. The deadline for submission of the bids expired on Tuesday.

Economy hotel players bullish amid slump

Economy hotel players bullish amid slump

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2009

At a time when the economic slowdown is eating into corporate earnings, the country's economy hotels, including Krizm Hotels and Berggruen Hotels, are going ahead with their expansion plans.

PF office may query ICICI Venture on dues

PF office may query ICICI Venture on dues

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2009

Rules out involvement of nominee and independent directors.

Govt earned windfall profits on high crude prices

Govt earned windfall profits on high crude prices

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2009

High crude oil prices in 2008 have left the government richer by a few thousand crore rupees. In 2008-09, the government earned "windfall profits" from the petroleum sector as crude oil prices spiked, touching a high of $147 in July 2008.

Auto slowdown hits Hosur units

Auto slowdown hits Hosur units

Rediff.com   19 Feb 2009

The town houses some 1,500 small and tiny units, of which 75 per cent are engaged in manufacturing components for the automotive industry. The town houses some 1,500 small and tiny units, of which 75 per cent are engaged in manufacturing components for the automotive industry.

Indian refiners beat global peers in margin game

Indian refiners beat global peers in margin game

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2009

Refining margin is the difference in prices of crude oil and finished products. More exposure to diesel behind less fall in Indian refining margins.

Slowdown: Diesel, petrol consumption drop sharply

Slowdown: Diesel, petrol consumption drop sharply

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2009

Here is another sign that the economy is slowing. The growth rate of diesel and petrol consumption is down sharply, though it is still in the positive territory.Year-on-year growth in diesel consumption in December 2008 was down to a mere 1.5 per cent as against 10.7 per cent growth in December 2007. Consumption of petrol grew 5.5 per cent in the month compared with 9.5 per cent in December 2007.Preliminary data for January showed that diesel consumption grew only 2 per cent.

Subhiksha defaults on PF dues

Subhiksha defaults on PF dues

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2009

The Employees' Provident Fund Office in Chennai said it intends to attach the properties of the promoters of struggling retail chain Subhiksha to meet provident fund dues for around 4,500 employees in and around the city.

B-schools prod students to float ventures

B-schools prod students to float ventures

Rediff.com   9 Feb 2009

Mumbai-based SP Jain Institute of Management and Research has announced that it will provide initial financial assistance to the tune of Rs 20 lakhs (Rs 2 million)to any of its students who wishes to don the entrepreneurial hat. The business school has set up an entrepreneurship cell in association with National Entrepreneurship Network.

Oil marketers plan 3-fold hike in outlets

Oil marketers plan 3-fold hike in outlets

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2009

After a year of sluggish growth in fuel retail outlets, the three state-run oil-marketing companies--Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation--have chalked out aggressive plans for expansion in the next financial year. They will be commissioning over 2,100 outlets in 2009-10--over three times what they added in the current year--at an investment of about Rs 1,200 crore.

3 more standalone firms to enter health insurance

3 more standalone firms to enter health insurance

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2009

According to the IRDA's data in 2007-08, the health insurance segment was estimated to be around Rs 5,152 crore, with only 2 per cent of the total population being covered. Realising the potential and advantages -- the segment has been growing at 37 per cent since 2002 -- both life and non-life insurers are offering health insurance products. Health insurance in 2007-08 accounted for 0.2 per cent of the individual regular premium for life insurance companies in India.

KG gas ruling: Fertiliser, power firms to benefit

KG gas ruling: Fertiliser, power firms to benefit

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2009

According to sources, the government has provided a list of 20 companies to Reliance Industries for sale of gas as per the gas utilisation policy. Some of these companies include Nagarjuna Fertilizer & Chemicals, Chambal Fertilizers & Chemicals, Tata Fertilizers and Oswal Chemicals & Fertilizers among others.

Oil marketers to take a Rs 1,100-crore hit

Oil marketers to take a Rs 1,100-crore hit

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2009

The fuel price revision on Wednesday is likely to wipe out the Rs 1,100 crore net revenue earned by the three oil marketing companies--Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation -- in the last one month, say officials from these companies.

Oil PSUs deny govt claim on execs' pay

Oil PSUs deny govt claim on execs' pay

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2009

At present, the annual cost-to-company of an entry-level officer in an oil-marketing company stands at Rs 6,30,000 per annum, including the annual performance bonus and various allowances, perks and retirement benefit that these officers are entitled to.