News for 'Business Correspondents'

In a first, Adani to deploy hydrogen-powered trucks

In a first, Adani to deploy hydrogen-powered trucks

Rediff.com17 Jan 2023

Asia's richest man Gautam Adani's group on Tuesday said it will deploy hydrogen fuel cell operated trucks for mining logistics and transportation as part of its decarbonisation plan. "Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), part of the diversified Adani portfolio of companies, signed an agreement to launch a pilot project to develop a hydrogen fuel cell electric truck (FCET) for mining logistics and transportation with Ashok Leyland, India, and Ballard Power, Canada," it said in a statement. This collaboration marks Asia's first planned hydrogen powered mining truck.

As govt subsidy stops, 7 electric two-wheeler firms suffered over Rs 9,000 cr loss

As govt subsidy stops, 7 electric two-wheeler firms suffered over Rs 9,000 cr loss

Rediff.com9 Aug 2023

Seven electric two-wheeler companies have suffered a cumulative loss of over Rs 9,000 crore on account of unpaid dues and loss of market after their subsidies were stopped last year, the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles (SMEV) said on Wednesday. These companies have also been directed by the govt to refund the subsidies availed by them. The audit by SMEV's chartered accountants indicates the total, cumulative damages to affected companies could account for over Rs 9,000 crore on a conservative basis, it noted.

Analysts cautious on new-age stocks on expensive valuations

Analysts cautious on new-age stocks on expensive valuations

Rediff.com25 Aug 2023

Stocks of new-age companies have seen a mixed performance thus far in calendar year 2023 (CY23). While those of One97 Communications (parent company of Paytm), PB Fintech and Zomato have surged up to 63 per cent year-to-date (YTD), FSN e-commerce, the parent company of Nykaa, however, has dropped 14 per cent YTD. By comparison, Nifty50 and Nifty 500 indices have advanced 7 per cent and 8.7 per cent, respectively, during the period, ACE Equity data show.

In debate over NPS and EPFO returns, one retirement fund edges ahead

In debate over NPS and EPFO returns, one retirement fund edges ahead

Rediff.com12 Jun 2023

If you work for 30 years, a two per cent difference in pension returns can reduce your final retirement nest egg by 40 per cent. The Rs 9-trillion National Pension System (NPS) seems to be delivering incrementally higher returns than the twice-as-large Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), shows a Business Standard analysis of data over the last seven years for the two retirement fund bodies. An investor who put in Rs 100 in retirement savings seven years ago would have seen her NPS nest egg grow to Rs 182 by 2023, according to the analysis based on the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority's recently released Handbook of National Pension System Statistics 2023.

Steel firms prep for festivals, see demand by auto, consumer goods sectors

Steel firms prep for festivals, see demand by auto, consumer goods sectors

Rediff.com23 Sep 2023

The festive season will mean business for the steel industry as it is the time when automotive and consumer appliance companies bump up demand to prepare for higher sales, experts have said. Ranjan Dhar, chief marketing officer at ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), said that bookings by auto and consumer appliance industries are 20 per cent higher ahead of the festive season compared to last year. "While this could be for a couple of months, it could normalise later at approximately 10 per cent," he said.

HUL Q1 net up 10.7% at Rs 2,100 crore

HUL Q1 net up 10.7% at Rs 2,100 crore

Rediff.com22 Jul 2021

FMCG major Hindustan Unilever Ltd on Thursday reported a 10.7 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit at Rs 2,100 crore for the first quarter ended June, 2021 led by a volume-based growth despite challenging circumstances due to the second wave of the pandemic. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 1,897 crore in the April-June quarter of the previous fiscal. Net sales during the quarter under review stood at Rs 11,996 crore, up 13.49 per cent, as against Rs 10,570 crore in the corresponding period a year ago, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) said in a regulatory filing.

Best countries for business: India's rank at a dismal 93

Best countries for business: India's rank at a dismal 93

Rediff.com19 Dec 2014

India must announce liberal policies to attract foreign investors.

Jan-Dhan Yojana: Most customers have no clue what to do with it

Jan-Dhan Yojana: Most customers have no clue what to do with it

Rediff.com26 Aug 2019

The Jan-Dhan accounts are zero balance accounts, comes with a life cover of Rs 30,000 per person, and an accidental cover of Rs 100,000. An active user of the account can also get overdraft facility of Rs 5,000 from banks.

'When We Cry, People Laugh'

'When We Cry, People Laugh'

Rediff.com24 Nov 2023

Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore, Hitesh Harisinghani and Afsar Dayatar return moist-eyed, elevated, after spending an evening with clowns and derring-do stunt artistes at Rambo Circus.

63.3% IT Returns Filed For Rs 5 Lakh Or Less

63.3% IT Returns Filed For Rs 5 Lakh Or Less

Rediff.com27 Dec 2022

Assessment year 2020-2021 saw returns filed fall to 69.7 million and stood at 71.4 million in assessment year 2021-2022.

Capital expenditure by 54 large CPSEs, key depts rose 93% in April-May

Capital expenditure by 54 large CPSEs, key depts rose 93% in April-May

Rediff.com12 Jun 2023

Capital expenditure by 54 large central public sector enterprises and five departmental arms, having a capex minimum target of Rs 100 crore, rose 93 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in the April-May period to Rs 1.39 trillion. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Railways have started this financial year's capex cycle on a stronger note. In the first two months of FY24, the 54 CPSEs, along with the departmental arms, achieved 19 per cent of their combined budget target of Rs 7.33 trillion, Business Standard has learnt.

Govt tweaks GST rules for claiming input tax credit

Govt tweaks GST rules for claiming input tax credit

Rediff.com27 Dec 2022

GST taxpayers will be required to reverse by November 30 the input tax credit (ITC) claimed in the last fiscal in case their suppliers fail to deposit the due tax by September 30, the finance ministry has said. The taxpayers, however, can reclaim the ITC later following the deposit of taxes by the supplier. The ministry has inserted Rule 37A in Central Goods and Services Tax rules to give effect to the new provision.

ITC Q3 net profit rises 23% to Rs 5,070 crore

ITC Q3 net profit rises 23% to Rs 5,070 crore

Rediff.com3 Feb 2023

ITC Ltd on Friday reported a 23.09 per cent increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 5,070.09 crore for the third quarter ended December 2022, helped by growth momentum across its operating segments. The diversified company had posted a net profit of Rs 4,118.80 crore during the October-December quarter of the previous fiscal, ITC said in a regulatory filing. Its revenue from operations was up 3.56 per cent to Rs 19,020.65 crore during the quarter under review, as against Rs 18,365.80 crore in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal.

Rotomac Global booked in Rs 750 crore bank fraud case

Rotomac Global booked in Rs 750 crore bank fraud case

Rediff.com16 Nov 2022

The CBI has booked Kanpur-based Rotomac Global and its directors for Rs 750.54 crore for alleged fraud in Indian Overseas Bank, officials said. The company, which was in the business of writing instruments, has a total outstanding of Rs 2,919 crore against a consortium of seven banks led by Bank of India in which Indian Overseas Bank has an exposure of 23 per cent. The agency has booked the company and its Directors - Sadhna Kothari and Rahul Kothari - under IPC sections related to criminal conspiracy (120-B) and cheating (420), besides various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Share of NRIs, overseas investors in mutual fund assets declining

Share of NRIs, overseas investors in mutual fund assets declining

Rediff.com13 Apr 2023

The share of non-resident Indians (NRIs) and overseas investors in Indian mutual funds has been declining over time, despite adding half-a-trillion rupees to holdings over the last five years. Mutual fund holdings for the segment went up from Rs 0.95 trillion as of December 2018 to Rs 1.54 trillion as of December 2022, shows Business Standard analysis of data from the industry body Association of Mutual Funds in India (Amfi). Their share in overall mutual fund assets has fallen from 4.2 per cent to 3.9 per cent during the same period.

India's business confidence index slips to 4-quarter low of 58.2: Ficci report

India's business confidence index slips to 4-quarter low of 58.2: Ficci report

Rediff.com31 Jan 2017

A majority of the respondents said that demonetisation is a positive step towards curbing black money and corruption from the economy, the move did have an impact on their sales.

'We have no policy to kill our enemies'

'We have no policy to kill our enemies'

Rediff.com28 Nov 2023

'Countries like Israel said openly that they will hunt people down. We have no such policy.' 'We have always been following the legal process of getting them (people wanted by India) through extradition.'

Around 31 mn households demand work under MGNREGA in May

Around 31 mn households demand work under MGNREGA in May

Rediff.com1 Jun 2022

Around 31 million households have demanded work under the flagship MGNREGA in the month of May this year, which is almost 11 per cent more than the same period last year and much higher than the corresponding pre-Covid period, data sourced from the website showed today. In April 2022, around 23.26 million households have sought work under the scheme which as per the provisional data for May has risen to almost 31 million households. The April 2022 work demand was almost 11.15 per cent less than the corresponding period of April 2021.

Adani Wilmar buys Kohinoor rice, other brands

Adani Wilmar buys Kohinoor rice, other brands

Rediff.com3 May 2022

Adani Wilmar Ltd (AWL) on Tuesday announced the acquisition of several brands, including the renowned 'Kohinoor' brand from McCormick Switzerland GMBH to strengthen its leadership in food business. The deal size was not disclosed. The acquisition would give AWL exclusive rights over the brand 'Kohinoor' basmati rice along with 'Ready to Cook', 'Ready to Eat' curries and meals portfolio under the Kohinoor brand umbrella in India, the company said in a statement.

Dabur to acquire majority stake in Badshah Masala for Rs 587 crore

Dabur to acquire majority stake in Badshah Masala for Rs 587 crore

Rediff.com27 Oct 2022

Fast-moving consumer goods major Dabur India is set to enter the branded spices and seasoning category. It has signed an agreement to acquire 51 per cent in Badshah Masala for a cash consideration of Rs 587.52 crore. The acquisition, the company says, is in line with its strategic intent to expand its food biz to Rs 500 crore in three years.

Tata Sons raising funds to invest in new businesses

Tata Sons raising funds to invest in new businesses

Rediff.com19 Apr 2014

Looking to put money in aviation, infrastructure and also to reduce debt of group companies.

PM's Jan Dhan Yojana: 1 crore bank accounts likely on day 1

PM's Jan Dhan Yojana: 1 crore bank accounts likely on day 1

Rediff.com27 Aug 2014

The government plans a mega launch of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 28, which is likely to see opening of one crore bank accounts on the first day itself.

Financial inclusion may remain an unsolved puzzle

Financial inclusion may remain an unsolved puzzle

Rediff.com20 Aug 2014

Days after the PM announced a financial inclusion package, a look at how banks and insurance firms are going about it and what lies ahead.

Bank accounts under Jan Dhan Yojana? A whopping 8 cr!

Bank accounts under Jan Dhan Yojana? A whopping 8 cr!

Rediff.com28 Nov 2014

The Finance Minister said government's target was not villages only but cover every household of every village under the PMJDY.

4 reasons why Zomato is a great buy at the current levels

4 reasons why Zomato is a great buy at the current levels

Rediff.com30 Mar 2023

Zomato has lost over 9 per cent thus far in calendar year 2023 (CY23) and has underperformed the S&P BSE Sensex that has slipped nearly 5.3 per cent during this period. Despite this underperformance, analysts at HSBC think that the stock can hit Rs 87 going ahead - up over 64 per cent from the current levels. The food delivery industry, wrote Yogesh Aggarwal and Abhishek Pathak of HSBC in a recent note, has slowed considerably in the last few months.

'India, China are locked in a boxing match'

'India, China are locked in a boxing match'

Rediff.com9 Jun 2023

'The 2017 Doklam stand-off in Bhutan, the 2018 Maldives crisis, and the 2020 Nepal Kalapani border dispute shows how Beijing has shot off these countries' shoulders to target India.'

Final norms for payment banks next month: RBI

Final norms for payment banks next month: RBI

Rediff.com12 Oct 2014

To deepen the financial inclusion process, and help get more people under the formal financial system, the RBI has mooted the idea of small banks and payments banks.

The Mudra Mela Muddle

The Mudra Mela Muddle

Rediff.com13 Sep 2021

Not only has the Mudra loan mela generated no jobs, it has frittered away trillions of taxpayers' money and it's time to bury the scheme, argues Debashis Basu.

Direct tax collection grows 26% from April-Nov

Direct tax collection grows 26% from April-Nov

Rediff.com31 Jan 2023

The gross tax revenues have touched 65 per cent of the Budget estimates at Rs 17.81 lakh crore during the first eight months of the current fiscal till November, propelled by corporate and personal income tax mop-up, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23 presented in Parliament on Tuesday. The survey, authored by Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran, said the 'substantial reforms' in India's taxation ecosystem post-2014 and policy reforms have removed the distortionary incentives from the economy. Reforms like GST, reduction in corporate taxes, exemption of sovereign wealth funds and pension funds from taxes, and removing Dividend Distribution tax have reduced the tax burden on individuals and businesses.

Direct tax collection soars 48% in FY22, advance tax payment up 41%

Direct tax collection soars 48% in FY22, advance tax payment up 41%

Rediff.com17 Mar 2022

India's collection from tax on personal and corporate income jumped over 48 per cent in the current fiscal after a 41 per cent surge in advance tax payments, mirroring sustained economic recovery in a year that witnessed two waves of coronavirus infections. Net collections of direct taxes until March 16, 2022, in the fiscal year that started on April 1, 2021, stood at Rs 13.63 lakh crore compared to Rs 9.18 lakh crore in the same period a year back, an official statement said. The net collections in direct taxes, which is made up of income tax on individual income, corporation tax on profits of companies, property tax, inheritance tax and gift tax, in the current fiscal is 35 per cent higher than the collection of Rs 9.56 lakh crore in the pre-pandemic year of 2019-20 (April 2019 to March 2020).

Cash Crisis: What did the PM discuss on Sunday night?

Cash Crisis: What did the PM discuss on Sunday night?

Rediff.com15 Nov 2016

A task force will speed up the recalibration of 200,000 ATMs so these can dispense the new Rs 2,000 notes.

6 states report fewer formal jobs for youth in Q2

6 states report fewer formal jobs for youth in Q2

Rediff.com6 Dec 2022

Six states out of 22 major states and Union Territories (UTs) generated fewer formal jobs for the youth in the September quarter than they did in the corresponding quarter a year ago, a Business Standard analysis of the data released by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) shows. States like Punjab (-12.4 per cent), Himachal Pradesh (-10.3 per cent), Jharkhand (- 7.2 per cent), Assam (-3.7 per cent), Gujarat (-3.4 per cent) and Rajasthan (-.1.1 per cent) saw further decline in the number of net new subscribers in the second quarter (Q2) of FY23 compared to the last year. The analysis did not include northeastern states, except for Assam. This is crucial as the subscribers in the 18-28 age group are seen as first-timers in the labour market, thus reflecting the robustness of the job market.

CWG 2022: Buzz missing in Birmingham

CWG 2022: Buzz missing in Birmingham

Rediff.com27 Jul 2022

The smile vanishes before you can spell 'B-I-R-M-I-N-G-H-A-M'.

Cabinet doubles Jan Dhan accounts overdraft cap to Rs 10,000

Cabinet doubles Jan Dhan accounts overdraft cap to Rs 10,000

Rediff.com5 Sep 2018

In view of the "runaway success" of the scheme, now it has been decided to make it open-ended with more incentives

When Modi Was Asked THE Question...

When Modi Was Asked THE Question...

Rediff.com23 Jun 2023

Back in the Press Briefing room on being commended for her questions to President Biden and the Indian prime minister, The Wall Street Journal's Sabrina Siddiqui responded, "You gotta do it."

'Everything is burnt to ashes'

'Everything is burnt to ashes'

Rediff.com27 Mar 2023

'And there is nothing much we can do.'

CCI slaps Rs 936.44 cr fine on Google over Play Store policies

CCI slaps Rs 936.44 cr fine on Google over Play Store policies

Rediff.com25 Oct 2022

In its second ruling against Google in less than a week, the Competition Commission on Tuesday slapped a penalty of Rs 936.44 crore on the internet major for abusing its dominant position with respect to its Play Store policies.

SBI authorised to promote rupee trade with Russia

SBI authorised to promote rupee trade with Russia

Rediff.com14 Sep 2022

India has decided to authorise the country's biggest lender SBI to promote rupee trade with Russia and soon Moscow will name its bank to operationalise the mechanism, exporters' body FIEO said on Wednesday. The RBI in July issued a detailed circular asking banks to put in place additional arrangements for export and import transactions in Indian rupees in view of increasing interest of the global trading community in the domestic currency. Currently, a large part of bilateral trade between India and Russia is getting settled in rupee due to sanctions imposed by the US and Europe following Moscow's attack on Ukraine.

India-UK business ties stronger

India-UK business ties stronger

Rediff.com11 Sep 2003

British High Commissioner to India Rob Young on Thursday said the two countries had set an ambitious target to double trade to pound 10 billion in the next five years from the present pound five billion.

Process of recovery of dues from Kingfisher on: SBI chief

Process of recovery of dues from Kingfisher on: SBI chief

Rediff.com26 Apr 2014

SBI leads a 17-member consortium of lenders that is trying to recover dues running into over Rs 7,500 crore (Rs 75 billion) in principal alone from Kingfisher Airlines.