Vrishti Beniwal, Sanjeeb Mukherjee And Shine Jacob

Stories by Vrishti Beniwal, Sanjeeb Mukherjee And Shine Jacob

How fuel prices have risen under Modi regime

How fuel prices have risen under Modi regime

Rediff.com   13 Jul 2020

Despite a massive decline in crude oil prices since 2012 -- Modi has been prime minister in six of these eight years -- petrol in Delhi has become 10 per cent costlier and diesel 97 per cent, as of July 2.

Free LPG reaches only 50% beneficiaries, shows govt data

Free LPG reaches only 50% beneficiaries, shows govt data

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2020

Given that the target was to reach 80.34 million families under PMUY - within three months starting April 1 - the government should have distributed at least 241.02 million cylinders by the end of June. It actually ended up distributing only 119.7 million cylinders.

Will govt's move to limit use of herbicide glyphosate hit India's food security?

Will govt's move to limit use of herbicide glyphosate hit India's food security?

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2020

Kerala, Punjab, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are among the major agriculturally important states that have banned the use of glyphosate citing its adverse impact on human health.

IOC beats lockdown blues, resumes works on projects

IOC beats lockdown blues, resumes works on projects

Rediff.com   9 Jul 2020

These mega projects, worth about Rs 1 trillion, would boost the economy, ensure smooth supply of petroleum products across the nation and also provide the much-needed relief to people looking to get back to work after the lockdown.

IOC launches winter-grade diesel for troops in Ladakh

IOC launches winter-grade diesel for troops in Ladakh

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2020

Looking into the current situation on the China boarder, IOC has stocked up enough winter-grade fuel for the region. With army movements increasing, the demand for this fuel is expected to increase multifold from the 350 metric tonnes last winter.

Kharif crop sowing picks up pace as monsoon moves in

Kharif crop sowing picks up pace as monsoon moves in

Rediff.com   27 Jun 2020

Data from department of agriculture showed that kharif crops had been sown in around 31.56 million hectares till Friday, which was 104.25 per cent more than the same period last year. Acreage of almost all crops was higher than last year.

Can we ever keep China out of Indian industries?

Can we ever keep China out of Indian industries?

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2020

Experts say while the increasing demand for a ban on Chinese goods might make for good optics, the reality is that India is still heavily dependent on that country in a wide range of industries like electronics, mobile devices, auto, pharma, telecom equipment, and fertilisers.

Pinarayi Vijayan: The CM as crisis manager

Pinarayi Vijayan: The CM as crisis manager

Rediff.com   24 Jun 2020

The Kerala chief minister's four years in office may well be remembered for the way he handled Cyclone Ockhi, two floods, Nipah, and now COVID-19, reports Shine Jacob.

ONGC halts operations at two rigs as 54 employees test COVID positive

ONGC halts operations at two rigs as 54 employees test COVID positive

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2020

A company official said work stopped temporarily only at two rigs and the remaining 34 in the offshore were operational. He added there was no impact on the company's production.

Ladakh stand-off: Railways cancels Chinese contract

Ladakh stand-off: Railways cancels Chinese contract

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2020

Govt has already approached World Bank seeking termination of contract. The progress of the project was just 20 per cent though the contract was awarded in 2016.

A glimpse of how economic activity is picking up

A glimpse of how economic activity is picking up

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2020

While freight traffic has gone up, the Google location data shows more people are stepping out of their homes.

Why there's such a gap between wholesale and retail food inflation?

Why there's such a gap between wholesale and retail food inflation?

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2020

Since March 2020, WPI food inflation rate continued to fall but the CPI-food inflation rose, signaling a breakdown in supply chain from the mandis to the final household.

Experts from US to join efforts to control Assam oil well fire

Experts from US to join efforts to control Assam oil well fire

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2020

Singapore-based Alert Disaster Control, one of the largest disaster management companies in the oil and gas sector, has already joined the team of experts from ONGC and OIL, reports Shine Jacob.

MP, not Punjab is now the top wheat-procuring state

MP, not Punjab is now the top wheat-procuring state

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2020

Till date, MP has procured around 12.77 million tonnes of wheat, which is expected to reach 13 million tonnes by the time the process ends in the next few weeks.

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.

Centre's agri market reform ordinance comes under fire

Centre's agri market reform ordinance comes under fire

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2020

Kiran Vissa, co-convenor of National Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture, said that amendments to the EC Act have nothing to do with farmers' welfare but instead meant to please big players and agriculture companies. This is because small and marginal farmers don't have the storage capacity to attract provisions of the EC Act.

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.

Agriculture grew 4% in FY19-20, but what about this year?

Agriculture grew 4% in FY19-20, but what about this year?

Rediff.com   30 May 2020

As the growth figures relate to pre-Covid lockdown period it does not reflect the real picture of distress which unfolded from April onwards in the sector, when acute supply disruption led to sharp drop in prices of many commodities largely perishables impacting farmers.

Locust invasion puts summer crop in many states at risk

Locust invasion puts summer crop in many states at risk

Rediff.com   27 May 2020

The locusts initially entered Rajasthan from Pakistan and from there the swarms moved towards Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab over the last few weeks and are now threatening to enter Uttar Pradesh, putting at risk the summer crop.

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.