Vinay Umarji And Shine Jacob

Stories by Vinay Umarji And Shine Jacob

Lockdown woes: Rail freight traffic drops 28% in April-May

Lockdown woes: Rail freight traffic drops 28% in April-May

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2020

Freight earnings too saw a decline of Rs 8,284 crore to Rs 13,412 crore in the first two months of FY21, compared to Rs 21,696 crore during the same period last year.

The flip side of oil companies' digital drive

The flip side of oil companies' digital drive

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2020

OMCs' Digital India move is likely to have an impact on more than 80.3 million Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana consumers, majority of whom are not exposed to digital transact.

How India can woo firms leaving China

How India can woo firms leaving China

Rediff.com   4 Jun 2020

Nomura Group Study found that in 2019, out of the fifty-six companies which shifted their production out of China, only three of these invested in India; while 26 went to Vietnam, 11 to Taiwan, and 08 to Thailand. In April 2020, Nikkei noted that out of the 1,000 firms which were planning to leave China and invest in Asian countries, only 300 of them were seriously thinking of investing in India.

Railways likely to freeze hiring, cut allowances

Railways likely to freeze hiring, cut allowances

Rediff.com   26 May 2020

Railway traffic has dropped 32 per cent to 99.86 mt between April 1 and May 14, compared to the same time last year, while its revenue, too, dipped 41 per cent to Rs 9,094.38 crore.

Low demand pulls down India's April oil refinery output by 29%

Low demand pulls down India's April oil refinery output by 29%

Rediff.com   24 May 2020

According to industry experts, the consumption of petroleum products in the month of April was only 30-40 per cent of what it had been prior to the lockdown. Due to this, refineries were forced to bring down their capacity too.

Why migrant workers in Surat are turning violent

Why migrant workers in Surat are turning violent

Rediff.com   20 May 2020

'There are 8-12 members living in the same accommodation. While in pre-lockdown days, since most were out on work, social tension among them was less because of limited interaction. But now, no food and livelihood, along with having to live in cramped conditions, is taking a toll on their mental health.'

Lockdown, labour exodus dampen mango trade in Maharashtra, Gujarat

Lockdown, labour exodus dampen mango trade in Maharashtra, Gujarat

Rediff.com   13 May 2020

Export of mango, especially alphonso, to European countries has been negligible this season; shipments to the Gulf fell 40-50 per cent.

Mix of relief and fear as rail services start

Mix of relief and fear as rail services start

Rediff.com   13 May 2020

For many the resumption of trains is a big boon, but some say it doesn't come without confusion and worries

Centre likely to extend lockdown with more relaxations

Centre likely to extend lockdown with more relaxations

Rediff.com   12 May 2020

During his interaction with the chief ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that more economic activities would resume; he also said that zone identification may be left to the states.

After UP and MP, Gujarat exempts firms from labour laws

After UP and MP, Gujarat exempts firms from labour laws

Rediff.com   9 May 2020

Except for laws pertaining to the payment of minimum wages, following safety norms and adequate compensation for workers in case of industrial accidents, no other provisions of the labour law would apply to all new companies that wish to operate in the state for at least 1,200 days, and for those that have already been operational for that period.

Excise duty on petrol, diesel raised

Excise duty on petrol, diesel raised

Rediff.com   6 May 2020

No change in retail prices as oil marketing firms to absorb increase

Glitter is missing from Surat's diamond industry

Glitter is missing from Surat's diamond industry

Rediff.com   5 May 2020

Though exports to Hong Kong, a major destination for India's polished diamonds, have resumed, the industry is currently sitting on an inventory worth around $2.3 billion.

Decade's worst time for diamond industry

Decade's worst time for diamond industry

Rediff.com   29 Apr 2020

Diamond industry expects revenues to drop by 20-25% in the current financial year.

India's first Covid-19 patient speaks up!

India's first Covid-19 patient speaks up!

Rediff.com   28 Apr 2020

The survivor from Thrissur, who returned from Wuhan -- the epicentre of the pandemic -- recounts her road to recovery and her future plans. Shine Jacob reports

Why shale holdings of RIL, GAIL are under pressure

Why shale holdings of RIL, GAIL are under pressure

Rediff.com   25 Apr 2020

American refiners closed some of their production, leading to futures trade benchmarked to the West Texas Intermediate going negative.

Gujarat pharma hub hit by near-zero exports

Gujarat pharma hub hit by near-zero exports

Rediff.com   15 Apr 2020

With the government asking the companies to operate with only 50 per cent staff strength, and exports dipping to almost zero, the truck and bus drivers idling at the petrol pump say they hardly have any work now. At a petrol pump on the deserted Bavla-Changodar highway near Ahmedabad in Gujarat, several trucks and buses are neatly parked in a row.

Corona effect: Job offers for IIMs, IITians cancelled

Corona effect: Job offers for IIMs, IITians cancelled

Rediff.com   7 Apr 2020

What will happen to the job placement and summer internship plans of India's management and IIT students? Many campuses are stepping in to help students hang on to their placements, in spite of the lockdown.

Free courses, offers... Online learning gets tempting!

Free courses, offers... Online learning gets tempting!

Rediff.com   6 Apr 2020

Edtech brands are offering discounts, adding fresh content and engaging more frequently with users during the lockdown, reports Vinay Umarji.

States rope in pvt hospitals to fight coronavirus

States rope in pvt hospitals to fight coronavirus

Rediff.com   4 Apr 2020

In the past one week alone, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh have issued orders to take over private hospitals in some districts. Sohini Das, Vinay Umarji and Gireesh Babu report.

Gujarat firm gets licence to make covid-19 test kits

Gujarat firm gets licence to make covid-19 test kits

Rediff.com   22 Mar 2020

A joint venture of Synbiotics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ambalal Sarabhai Enterprises (ASE), and CoDiagnostics, CoSara Diagnostics is the first and only Indian company so far to receive a licence from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to manufacture coronavirus diagnostic test kits.