News for 'Business Standard the department'

US Targets India's Russian Oil Source

US Targets India's Russian Oil Source

Rediff.com28 Feb 2024

Urals and Sokol accounted for every 4 out of 5 barrels of Russian supplies to India last year.

Champai Soren: Puppet Or Puppeteer?

Champai Soren: Puppet Or Puppeteer?

Rediff.com19 Feb 2024

Pressure from the Soren clan is only one of the challenges Champai faces as he readies himself to helm the predominantly tribal state.

Wipro asks freshers to take new test or get terminated

Wipro asks freshers to take new test or get terminated

Rediff.com20 Apr 2023

Wipro is in the news, again. The information technology (IT) services company has mandated freshers, who had opted for a lower salary package of Rs 3.5 lakh per annum, instead of Rs 6.5 lakh per annum, clear a new training module titled Project Readiness Program (PRP) and score at least 60 per cent or stand terminated. Wipro is not the only company to have implemented such a programme.

Monsoon onset over Kerala to be delayed

Monsoon onset over Kerala to be delayed

Rediff.com16 May 2023

The onset of the southwest monsoon is being keenly watched this year as it may provide an early sign regarding its progress over the Indian subcontinent, particularly when El Nio is expected to rear its head during the latter half of the season.

Will BJP benefit from Trinamool leader's arrest for Sandeshkhali?

Will BJP benefit from Trinamool leader's arrest for Sandeshkhali?

Rediff.com14 Mar 2024

Whether the age-old cry of kendrer banchana will be able to drown out pangs of Sandeshkhali, the EVM will tell.

'A prime minister should take the country forward'

'A prime minister should take the country forward'

Rediff.com19 Apr 2024

'The prime minister took a meeting recently and he asked for suggestions and ideas for a plan till 2047.'

Govt Misses Divestment Target

Govt Misses Divestment Target

Rediff.com19 Jan 2023

Ahead of the Budget, the government has achieved almost half the divestment target of Rs 65,000 crore. FY23 divestment receipts are unlikely to be anywhere close to the budgeted target.

Impact of untimely rain on wheat crop marginal

Impact of untimely rain on wheat crop marginal

Rediff.com5 Apr 2023

There has not been a large impact of untimely rain and hailstorm so far in several major wheat-growing areas, and those might have damaged around 3 per cent of the standing crop -- not enough to make a big dent in the expected 112 million tonnes of production in FY24, a senior government official said on Tuesday. Relentless rain pounded most North Indian states all through March. Separately, the chairman of Food Corporation of India (FCI), Ashok K Meena, told reporters the agency was on track to achieve the targeted 34 million tonnes of procurement in FY24 on the back of a strong start to the purchase season from Madhya Pradesh.

Satellite spectrum: Reliance Jio sends second legal opinion to Trai

Satellite spectrum: Reliance Jio sends second legal opinion to Trai

Rediff.com4 Sep 2023

Reliance Jio has sent a second legal opinion to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on the subject of the potential allocation of satellite spectrum. The letter is written by retired Supreme Court Justice L Nageshwara Rao and argues in favour of auctions, stating that any other method for allocating spectrum apart from auctions could be constitutionally unsound. Business Standard has reviewed the letter.

'We should not call it demonetisation'

'We should not call it demonetisation'

Rediff.com12 Jun 2023

'...because it is still a legal tender.'

NEP Opens Doors For Foreign Universities

NEP Opens Doors For Foreign Universities

Rediff.com21 Jun 2022

'We are receiving a steady stream of interest from well-established foreign universities.'

All about the Infrastructure Finance Secretariat

All about the Infrastructure Finance Secretariat

Rediff.com13 Jul 2022

During his first Union Budget in July 2014, former finance minister Arun Jaitley announced the setting up of an institution called 3P India, with an allocation of Rs 500 crore. The intention was to mainstream public-private partnerships (PPPs) in India. The plan was to bring together the capacities of the government and private sector to push PPP projects.

Banks get 8 months to effect TCS on international credit card spend

Banks get 8 months to effect TCS on international credit card spend

Rediff.com31 Jul 2023

The central government has given banks and credit card entities six to eight months to put in place the requisite reporting mechanism and related features to collect tax at source on international credit card transactions, a senior bureaucrat told Business Standard. According to the bureaucrat, the plan to bring overseas credit cards under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) has not been mothballed and is simply being deferred so that banks get adequate time to get the system up and running. The official expects the reporting mechanism to be ready in the given time, and the rule could be implemented in the next financial year (2024-25, or FY25).

RBI's decision on connected lending may curb India Inc's powers

RBI's decision on connected lending may curb India Inc's powers

Rediff.com18 Dec 2023

The decision by the Reserve Bank of India to introduce a unified regulatory framework on connected lending for all the regulated entities (RE) is expected to reduce the influence of business conglomerates in the Indian lending space, said bankers and experts. "Connected lending pertains to lending to related parties within the same business group. "While the RBI might appear more agreeable to allowing business conglomerates to own banking licenses, it deems it crucial to bolster regulations that would prevent conglomerate-owned banks from gaming the system," said Shivaji Thapliyal, head of research and lead analyst, YES Securities.

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.

Apply for Maharashtra licence in 3 weeks, SC tells Uber

Apply for Maharashtra licence in 3 weeks, SC tells Uber

Rediff.com14 Feb 2023

The Supreme Court on Monday directed Uber to apply for a licence within three weeks to operate in Maharashtra, stressing that cab aggregators cannot function without one. A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud said that an earlier interim order by the Supreme Court that had allowed Uber to operate in the state would not provide legal cover, since an aggregator cannot operate without a licence. It ordered Uber to apply for a licence by March 6, said a report by Bar and Bench.

'There's a de-emphasis on divestment'

'There's a de-emphasis on divestment'

Rediff.com12 Feb 2024

'We now look at divestment as an opportunity for maximising the value of public assets, not necessarily as a short-term resource-raising measure.'

Over 24 prominent charitable institutions in India may face tax scrutiny

Over 24 prominent charitable institutions in India may face tax scrutiny

Rediff.com31 Oct 2022

More than 24 prominent charitable institutions in the country - from private trusts, educational societies, statutory authorities, and cricket associations - may soon face tax scrutiny after a Supreme Court (SC) ruling set the limits to which tax exemption can be claimed. Most of these are highly profitable but get tax exemption due to their 'charitable organisation' status. The revenue department is preparing a standard operating procedure to scrutinise their books and evaluate if they can continue to claim tax exemption in the context of the recent SC ruling

GST Council may take up e-game tax in December meet

GST Council may take up e-game tax in December meet

Rediff.com22 Oct 2022

It will also be new Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra's first GST Council meeting. He will take charge after the incumbent Tarun Bajaj retires on November 30.

Now, each state to have a score card on ease of doing business

Now, each state to have a score card on ease of doing business

Rediff.com19 May 2015

States to come under DIPP watch on ease of doing business.

Nandan Nilekani to join govt panel on curbing digital monopolies

Nandan Nilekani to join govt panel on curbing digital monopolies

Rediff.com6 Jul 2021

Infosys chairman and Aadhaar architect Nandan Nilekani will join a panel set up by the central government, along with eight other members, to advise the government on designing and accelerating adoption of Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), aimed at curbing digital monopolies. The larger idea is to give 'free and fair' choice to consumers to buy products on an online platform, a senior government official said.

IRCTC moves to monetise passenger data

IRCTC moves to monetise passenger data

Rediff.com26 Aug 2022

In a first of its kind move, the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the ticket booking arm of the Indian Railways, is looking to monetise its bank of passenger data while conducting business with private and government companies. IRCTC has a large bank of data related to every online railway ticket ever generated as it is the country's only railway ticketing platform, an IRCTC official told Business Standard. The public sector undertaking, which has sought the services of a consultant to assist with the monetisation process, plans to raise Rs 1,000 crore through this exercise.

'BJP Has Several Big Ideas For 2024 Election'

'BJP Has Several Big Ideas For 2024 Election'

Rediff.com22 Dec 2023

'The allegations of government involvement in targeted assassinations abroad are likely to help, not hurt, the ruling party.' 'True or false, they convey a sense of muscularity and, in some quarters, are celebrated as a harbinger of 'great power' status.'

Trai to update quality of service parameters soon; to meet telcos next month

Trai to update quality of service parameters soon; to meet telcos next month

Rediff.com6 Jul 2023

State-level reports every quarter for service quality and artificial intelligence-based solutions may be officially mandated as part of a set of more stringent, updated quality-of-service (QoS) norms by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) soon. The new norms will also factor in user experience for 5G networks, officials informed Business Standard. In February, Trai asked telecommunication (telecom) service providers (TSPs) to submit updates on measures taken to reduce call drops and lags and raise the quality of connection.

How Jio plans to auction spectrum required by NGSO

How Jio plans to auction spectrum required by NGSO

Rediff.com14 Jun 2023

Reliance Jio has suggested an alternative plan to the The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) under which spectrum required by non-geostationary orbit satellite (NGSO) operators to run their gateway terminals should be auctioned geographically, based on districts, rather than circles as done for mobile services. For spectrum which would be required to connect user terminals (like individual homes), Jio has suggested it should be auctioned frequency-wise and exclusively to an operator at a pan-India level. The move is significant as the auctioning of satellite space spectrum has been vehemently opposed by low earth orbit satellite operators (satellites which circle at low altitudes of 200-2000 km).

Nirma's new clothes: The journey of detergent brand towards healthcare

Nirma's new clothes: The journey of detergent brand towards healthcare

Rediff.com12 Oct 2023

Nirma's tryst with the pharmaceutical space started in 2006 when it acquired the ailing Core Healthcare in a deal reported to be worth Rs 300 crore. The Ahmedabad-based manufacturer of intravenous fluids was subsequently renamed Nirlife. Pharma industry insiders say Nirma, which broke open the detergent market in the 1990s with low prices and massive advertising, tried an encore of the low-price strategy in pharma, but with mixed results.

Citing National Security, India Bans Chinese Cos

Citing National Security, India Bans Chinese Cos

Rediff.com8 Jun 2023

The government believes firms which are subject to China's laws could be forced to hand over information to Beijing's security services.

US recovery helped India hit $400-bn export target

US recovery helped India hit $400-bn export target

Rediff.com1 Apr 2022

Economic recovery from the pandemic in the US has helped India achieve the $400-billion mark for exports for the first time in any fiscal year. According to the preliminary data compiled by the Department of Commerce, India exported goods worth $73 billion to the US from April 1 to March 21 - up 47 per cent, compared to last year. The US' share of exports, compared to total exports, stood at 18.2 per cent. The country is also India's largest trading partner and export destination.

Majority Of Judges Are Upper Castes

Majority Of Judges Are Upper Castes

Rediff.com13 Feb 2023

The law ministry said 78 per cent of high court judges appointed between 2018 and 2022 belonged to the upper caste.

Air India Express cabin crew call off strike; no sacking of staffers

Air India Express cabin crew call off strike; no sacking of staffers

Rediff.com10 May 2024

Both parties will discuss the issues and there will be a meeting again on May 28, he said.

ED's scope of probe under PMLA increased 2.5 times in six years

ED's scope of probe under PMLA increased 2.5 times in six years

Rediff.com29 Apr 2022

Recently, Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached assets worth Rs 757.8 crore of Amway India Enterprises in connection with an alleged marketing scam. It claimed that Amway was running a multi-level marketing scam. The ED provisionally attached immovable and movable properties worth Rs 411.83 crore and bank balances of Rs 345.94 crore from 36 different accounts belonging to Amway. Data from the Department of Economic Affairs shows that in 2021-22 (until December 2021), ED had provisionally attached Rs 8,989.3 crore worth of assets.

Your MediClaim Needs A Check Up!

Your MediClaim Needs A Check Up!

Rediff.com7 May 2024

Health insurance coverage should be hiked periodically to keep pace with medical inflation, or increase in healthcare costs.

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.

Govt readies portal to speed up Rs 2.5 trn-plus asset monetisation drive

Govt readies portal to speed up Rs 2.5 trn-plus asset monetisation drive

Rediff.com27 Jul 2021

The government has developed an asset monetisation dashboard for monitoring real-time progress of its ambitious Rs 2.5 trillion-plus pipeline, and providing visibility to investors. The portal has been prepared as the government tries to provide a one-stop shop to investors keen on taking over assets of government departments and ministries.

UP sitting on 2900-tonne goldmine at Sonbhadra

UP sitting on 2900-tonne goldmine at Sonbhadra

Rediff.com22 Feb 2020

According to the Geological Survey of India (GSI) and UP geology and mining directorate reports, gold reserves totalling 2,944 tonnes have been found in the Sona Pahadi and Hardi blocks of the backward Sonbhadra district.

Will a fresh wave of Covid-19 hit India?

Will a fresh wave of Covid-19 hit India?

Rediff.com31 Mar 2023

According to Rajeev Jayadevan, co-chairman, national Indian Medical Association Covid Task Force, the current scenario qualifies as a wave.

Govt may seek crypto log on transactions from banks, exchanges

Govt may seek crypto log on transactions from banks, exchanges

Rediff.com31 Mar 2022

The tax authorities may tell banks and crypto exchanges to report transactions of virtual digital assets (VDAs) as the government begins taxing gains from cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens from April 1. So far, the tax department has relied on voluntary disclosures on transactions of VDAs. Once implemented, the sale and purchase of digital assets will reflect in the Annual Information Statement (AIS). The AIS contains details of at least 46 of the financial transactions done by a taxpayer in a financial year.

The Battle For Satellite Spectrum

The Battle For Satellite Spectrum

Rediff.com27 Dec 2023

While the market for satellite broadband currently is small, the potential is large as an estimated 30 per cent of the country does not have reliable terrestrial broadband services.

Pre-Budget Consultations To Begin Soon

Pre-Budget Consultations To Begin Soon

Rediff.com16 Nov 2022

Seven of the meetings will be held in late November or early December at the finance ministry, as is the norm.

'Public AI infrastructure we create would help startups'

'Public AI infrastructure we create would help startups'

Rediff.com9 Jan 2024

'Similar to the case of the digital payment system where the government created a public platform and others joined in, we are exploring a similar structure to create a PPP platform where the compute required for AI could be accessed by the small player.'