Veena Mani, Sanjeeb Mukherjee &Amp;Amp; Sohini Das

Stories by Veena Mani, Sanjeeb Mukherjee &Amp;Amp; Sohini Das

Over 40% of Sedans Are CNG-Powered

Over 40% of Sedans Are CNG-Powered

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2024

Compact sedans (Maruti Dzire, Hyundai Aura, Tata Tigor)' share in the overall sedan category grew from 68% in 2021 to 74.6% in 2024. Mid-sedans' (Honda City, Maruti Ciaz, Volkswagen Virtus) share declined from 26.2% in 2021 to 20.2%.

PMAY-G survey to use 'face recognition' tools to identify new beneficiaries

PMAY-G survey to use 'face recognition' tools to identify new beneficiaries

Rediff.com   20 Nov 2024

A fresh survey to identify a minimum of eight million new beneficiaries of the flagship rural housing scheme, in addition to the 12 million already identified, will use the latest face-recognition tools to minimise gaps, a senior official said on Tuesday. The survey, which has already started across the country for building the fresh 20 million new rural houses over the next five years, can also be done by the beneficiary himself/herself as well through the Awaassoft mobile application specially created for this purpose.

Medical Tourism Revenue Takes A Hit After Govt Stops Visas For Bangladeshis

Medical Tourism Revenue Takes A Hit After Govt Stops Visas For Bangladeshis

Rediff.com   18 Nov 2024

According to a recent CareEdge Ratings report, Bangladesh accounts for around 50-60 per cent of India's total medical tourism inflow

Sedans Ready To Take On SUVs

Sedans Ready To Take On SUVs

Rediff.com   12 Nov 2024

Sedans and hatchbacks have both lost market share to SUVs, which now account for more than 50% share of the 4 million-odd-unit PV market in the country.

MGNREGA participation dipped in first 6 months this FY compared to last

MGNREGA participation dipped in first 6 months this FY compared to last

Rediff.com   28 Oct 2024

Fewer people participated in MGNREGA during the first six months of this financial year (April-September) compared to the same period last year, a recent analysis of the scheme's performance by LibTech showed.

Tomato price volatility exposes gaps in India's agriculture supply chain

Tomato price volatility exposes gaps in India's agriculture supply chain

Rediff.com   26 Oct 2024

Tomato prices have been on the boil for more than a month. Data from major cities show that the spike has been between 125 and 150 per cent at the wholesale level. Soaring vegetable prices, including tomatoes, pushed the retail inflation rate to a nine-month high of 5.49 per cent in September, according to government data. Though reports say prices are expected to come down in the next few weeks after supplies improve from Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, how long will the respite last is anybody's guess.

Global firms form 'good rice alliance' for Indian farmers

Global firms form 'good rice alliance' for Indian farmers

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2024

Four big global companies - Bayer, GenZero (a wholly-owned arm of financial major Temasek), Shell and Mitsubishi - have decided to scale up their carbon credit programme in nine states to empower farmers. The credits are generated through the adoption of smart agriculture practices - Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR). Since over a year, the project, which was being run on a pilot basis, has positively impacted 10,000 farmers, covering more than 25,000 hectares.

Lower input costs may aid pharma firms' Q2 margins

Lower input costs may aid pharma firms' Q2 margins

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2024

Analysts are expecting pharmaceutical companies to post sales growth of 10-11 per cent in the second quarter this financial year while the Ebitda (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation) margins are anticipated to improve by about 110 basis points. Ebitda improvement will be led by lower input costs because prices of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are 5-15 per cent lower year-on-year (Y-o-Y). Axis Capital said sales growth would be around 10 per cent, of which growth in the India market would be 11 per cent or so.

Maruti, Tatas' Plans To Boost Car Sales

Maruti, Tatas' Plans To Boost Car Sales

Rediff.com   21 Oct 2024

'The customer is fast changing, and she demands newer experiences that wealth can buy.'

Trade on road to recovery but Indian firms tread cautiously

Trade on road to recovery but Indian firms tread cautiously

Rediff.com   12 Oct 2024

Truck movements across the India-Bangladesh border are on the rise, with increasing rentals signalling a trade recovery between the two South Asian nations. Yet, geopolitical tension looms large, with Bangladesh now under an interim government for nearly two months.

Adulterated Drugs On Decline Amid Crackdown

Adulterated Drugs On Decline Amid Crackdown

Rediff.com   10 Oct 2024

Rise in raids on illicit drug manufacturing units, alongside arrests for the production, sale, or distribution of spurious or adulterated drugs.

Pharma companies fight fakes with smart packaging

Pharma companies fight fakes with smart packaging

Rediff.com   10 Oct 2024

Indian pharmaceutical companies are stepping up their efforts to combat the problem of counterfeit drugs, employing a variety of strategies, from packaging innovations to engaging private investigation agencies. The stakes are high, as counterfeit medicines not only harm consumers but also tarnish the reputation of leading brands.

Hyundai Gears Up For Rs 27,856 Crore IPO

Hyundai Gears Up For Rs 27,856 Crore IPO

Rediff.com   10 Oct 2024

India's second-largest passenger vehicles firm will be valued at Rs 1.59 trillion at the top-end of the price band of Rs 1,865-Rs 1,960.

Will Anna's Death Be A Wake-Up Call For India Inc?

Will Anna's Death Be A Wake-Up Call For India Inc?

Rediff.com   8 Oct 2024

'In India, managers and the leadership almost glorify overworking.'

TaMo makes upgrade to EV easier through used car marketplace

TaMo makes upgrade to EV easier through used car marketplace

Rediff.com   1 Oct 2024

The company has the largest car park in EVs in India, estimated to be around 170,000 units. As a pilot, it has already started work with used online car marketplace Spinny.

India 2nd country after US to make Mercedes 7-seater

India 2nd country after US to make Mercedes 7-seater

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2024

This is not the first EV that Mercedes would be making in India though. It has been making the EQS sedan here for the last 18 months, and has sold 500 units of the car.

With Veero M&M aims to expand LCV portfolio

With Veero M&M aims to expand LCV portfolio

Rediff.com   19 Sep 2024

Priced at Rs 7.99 lakh for the entry-level product, M&M has launched the diesel and CNG variants of Veero, and an electric version will come in the future.

It's Raining Discounts On Cars!

It's Raining Discounts On Cars!

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2024

'We are seeing one of the highest discounts in recent years across companies.' 'October is a crucial month with several festivals coming up.'

Maruti to drive deep into small towns via Arena Satellite showrooms

Maruti to drive deep into small towns via Arena Satellite showrooms

Rediff.com   3 Sep 2024

Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) plans to open new Arena Satellite showrooms as the country's largest carmaker aims to tap small towns and new markets, said a senior company executive, amid signs of recovery in rural demand and an approaching festival season. Senior executive officer for marketing and sales MSIL, Partho Banerjee, told Business Standard the company was aiming to penetrate deeper into markets and reach closer to its customers. "We have already had a concept of mobile showrooms in the Arena channel.

India's agriculture growth dips in Q1 as heatwave stings crop output

India's agriculture growth dips in Q1 as heatwave stings crop output

Rediff.com   2 Sep 2024

Gross Value Added (GVA) growth in agriculture and allied activities in the first quarter of the 2024-25 financial year (Q1FY25) dipped to 2.7 per cent at constant prices from 4.2 per cent in Q1FY24 due to a drop in output of some crops following heatwave in the main growing months. Low post-monsoon rains, which dried most of the reservoirs in several states across the country, also impacted the production of many crops. At current prices, the growth was estimated at 8.5 per cent as against 4.1 per cent in Q1FY24 due to a spike in food inflation during the April to June months of FY25.