News for 'Consumers Union'

Kashmir Politics Stands Bereft Of Its Propellers

Kashmir Politics Stands Bereft Of Its Propellers

Rediff.com5 Aug 2022

At the moment, there appears to be no alternative political narrative to the one lying buried under the debris of havoc caused on this front by the fallout of 'August 5, 2019', asserts Mohammad Sayeed Malik, the distinguished commentator on Kashmir affairs.

Who Says Gujarat Is A BJP Bastion?

Who Says Gujarat Is A BJP Bastion?

Rediff.com4 Nov 2022

The Congress won 77 seats or 42% of seats in the 2017 polls. How then can Gujarat be called a BJP bastion, asks Sanjeev Nayyar.

Govt rejects possibility of undercounting Covid deaths

Govt rejects possibility of undercounting Covid deaths

Rediff.com22 Jul 2021

Given the robust and statute-based death registration system in India, while some cases could go undetected as per the principles of infectious disease and its management, missing out on the deaths is unlikely, the Union health ministry said.

Stock markets in turmoil: What should you do?

Stock markets in turmoil: What should you do?

Rediff.com26 Jan 2022

Analysts caution against volatility and recommend buying stocks of companies that are on strong fundamental footing that have been beaten down badly in the recent carnage.

Realme overtakes Samsung, grabs second spot in smartphone market

Realme overtakes Samsung, grabs second spot in smartphone market

Rediff.com13 Dec 2021

Mobile device maker Realme has overtaken South Korean giant Samsung to grab the second spot in the branded smartphone market, with 18 per cent volume share in October this year, revealed Counterpoint Research. Its rival Samsung ended October with 16 per cent share. Xiaomi (including its brand POCO) was at 20 per cent; Vivo at 13 per cent. The ascent brings Realme closer to its ambition to reach the No. 1 berth by 2022 when it hopes to sell over 40 million smartphones annually.

Without crossing the 50% SC limit, Maha to issue OBC quota ordinance for bypolls

Without crossing the 50% SC limit, Maha to issue OBC quota ordinance for bypolls

Rediff.com15 Sep 2021

The Maharashtra government will bring an ordinance to grant OBC quota in upcoming by-elections to a set of local governing bodies without crossing the Supreme Court-mandated 50 per cent cap on reservation, said state minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Wednesday.

Kejriwal govt to identify single-use plastic littering hotspots; shut mfg units by Jun 2022

Kejriwal govt to identify single-use plastic littering hotspots; shut mfg units by Jun 2022

Rediff.com18 Aug 2021

The Delhi government will identify single-use plastic littering hotspots and the entry points of such items into water bodies and drains by October 31 this year, according to a draft action plan for the elimination of the environmentally hazardous products.

FIFA WC diary: Beer priced at nearly $14 per half-litre!

FIFA WC diary: Beer priced at nearly $14 per half-litre!

Rediff.com16 Nov 2022

Rainbow-themed badge adorns US training facility

Former home minister Buta Singh passes away

Former home minister Buta Singh passes away

Rediff.com2 Jan 2021

The senior Congress leader was in a coma since October last year, when he was admitted to AIIMS after he suffered a brain haemorrhage.

No shortage of COVID vaccine doses in any state, clarifies health ministry

No shortage of COVID vaccine doses in any state, clarifies health ministry

Rediff.com11 Mar 2021

Responding to a question on the Rajasthan government's claim that there is a shortage in COVID-19 vaccine stock, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the central government regularly monitors the availability of vaccine supply in all states and UTs and their consumption on a daily basis.

UPSC takes 31 pvt sector experts as jt secretaries

UPSC takes 31 pvt sector experts as jt secretaries

Rediff.com8 Oct 2021

Minister of state for personnel Jitendra Singh said it is a major step to place the right talent for the right role.

Lockdown: Govt allows doorstep delivery of essential medicines

Lockdown: Govt allows doorstep delivery of essential medicines

Rediff.com27 Mar 2020

According to a notification issued by the health ministry, medical retailers will be allowed to provide drugs to people at their doorstep.

Is my portfolio good?'

Is my portfolio good?'

Rediff.com31 Jan 2022

Ajit Mishra, vice president, research, Religare Broking, answers your queries.

How Modi govt plans to ensure 24x7 power supply

How Modi govt plans to ensure 24x7 power supply

Rediff.com20 Dec 2021

A greater payment security mechanism for power generation companies to ensure timely payouts for supply of electricity will be in focus in 2022 as stricter rules are on the anvil for 24x7 power supply amid discoms' outstanding dues at a whopping Rs 1.56 lakh crore. Mounting outstanding dues of distribution companies (discoms) to electricity generation companies (gencos) have been a perennial issue affecting the entire value chain in the power sector and are also a hindrance for the ambitious goal of 24x7 power supply across the country even when the payment for coal is made in advance. The situation persists despite the fact that discoms' dues become overdue after 45 days of generating bills and they also have to pay penal interest on the overdue amount in most of the cases to gencos.

What's in the Eveready takeover for Burmans

What's in the Eveready takeover for Burmans

Rediff.com21 Mar 2022

The change in ownership is expected to give a fresh lease of life to the company that has often been dragged by financial stress in its close to three-decade journey under the Khaitans, reports Ishita Ayan Dutt.

Ola Electric defers e-scooter sale to Sep 15 due to website glitch

Ola Electric defers e-scooter sale to Sep 15 due to website glitch

Rediff.com10 Sep 2021

Ola Electric's technology team is working hard to iron out the technical kinks that marred the electric vehicle company's hyped online sale of its electric scooters (e-scooters) - the S1 and the S1 Pro - on Wednesday, said company sources. The SoftBank-backed firm is facing technical difficulties in making the website live for the purchase of its e-scooters. According to company sources, the website couldn't go live as there were integration issues.

Ukraine crisis: Russian oil companies offer big discounts to India

Ukraine crisis: Russian oil companies offer big discounts to India

Rediff.com15 Mar 2022

As stringent sanctions imposed by the European Union and US are crippling business and trade, desperate Russian oil companies are offering huge discounts to India, provided a payment mechanism to bypass the SWIFT ban is quickly approved by the government. According to sources familiar with the development, Russian oil firms are offering 25-27 per cent discount to the dated Brent crude prices. State-run Rosneft is one the biggest oil companies that supply crude to India.

How Covid-19 moved India from milk shortage to glut in a few months

How Covid-19 moved India from milk shortage to glut in a few months

Rediff.com20 Aug 2020

The restrictions imposed in March led to a sharp slump in demand from bulk consumers like hotels, restaurants, and roadside tea stalls, as they were forced to shut down. Sales of major milk products such as ice-cream, butter milk, and cheese, which usually spike during summer, also dropped.

Pollution debate in Parl gets musical, witty

Pollution debate in Parl gets musical, witty

Rediff.com21 Nov 2019

Supriyo, who is a playback singer, said the government is trying to clean up the air so that everyone can sing this song from the movie Seeta Aur Geeta.

BJP hails Budget as 'Aatmanirbhar' push; Oppn says 'let-down like never before'

BJP hails Budget as 'Aatmanirbhar' push; Oppn says 'let-down like never before'

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

The Union Budget on Monday evoked contrasting responses in the political arena with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party hailing it as a vision for an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' and the Opposition describing it as a 'let down like never before' that was meant to 'deceive' people.

Power crisis: Lessons India can learn from China

Power crisis: Lessons India can learn from China

Rediff.com20 Oct 2021

China on Tuesday announced a major policy change for its crisis-ridden power sector by allowing coal-fired power plants to charge their industrial and commercial customers market-driven prices. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China said the electricity generated by coal-fired plants would discover price in market trading "in an orderly manner" from October 15. This is being done to pass on the high costs of coal and is being held up as the boldest reform in the Chinese power sector.

Onions are set to bring more tears

Onions are set to bring more tears

Rediff.com6 Nov 2019

There was a delay in sowing of kharif onion because of late arrival of monsoon and later floods in many states damaged the crop.

'25% compound return for 22 years is unrealistic'

'25% compound return for 22 years is unrealistic'

Rediff.com27 Oct 2022

Nikunj Saraf, Vice President Choice Wealth, answers your mutual fund queries.

Modi Cabinet reshuffle: Who got what

Modi Cabinet reshuffle: Who got what

Rediff.com8 Jul 2021

Fifteen Cabinet ministers and 28 Ministers of State were sworn-in by President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday evening.

Moody's not too optimistic about 2nd round of stimulus

Moody's not too optimistic about 2nd round of stimulus

Rediff.com15 Oct 2020

The government's second round of stimulus will spur consumer spending in the near term but support to economic growth will be minimal, Moody's Investors Service said.

Vote for TMC if you prefer scams: Amit Shah

Vote for TMC if you prefer scams: Amit Shah

Rediff.com25 Mar 2021

Reaching out to politically crucial Kurmi caste population of the Purulia district, Shah promised jobs for their every family and education in their language.

Centre approves COVID-19 emergency package for states, UTs

Centre approves COVID-19 emergency package for states, UTs

Rediff.com9 Apr 2020

The Union health ministry is releasing funds for states and Union territories under the National Health Mission for implementation of phase 1 up to June 2020.

Don't fall prey to lies: Tomar in letter to farmers

Don't fall prey to lies: Tomar in letter to farmers

Rediff.com17 Dec 2020

The minister, in an eight-page open letter to farmers, said the Modi-government was committed to their welfare and stressed that the new legislations were aimed at benefitting small and marginal farmers.

'Investors should allocate more towards large-caps and defensives in the current risk-off scenario'

'Investors should allocate more towards large-caps and defensives in the current risk-off scenario'

Rediff.com13 May 2022

'For the next two years, we expect the bulk of earnings growth contribution from sectors like financials and energy, where the outlook remains positive, while the sectors which are linked to domestic consumption and are currently witnessing strains on margins have low salience for Nifty earnings.'

At 7.8%, RBI's 2022-23 GDP growth projection lower than Economic Survey's

At 7.8%, RBI's 2022-23 GDP growth projection lower than Economic Survey's

Rediff.com10 Feb 2022

The Reserve Bank's growth projection for next financial year is lower than 8-8.5 per cent projected by the finance ministry in the recent Economic Survey which was tabled in Parliament on January 31. Unveiling the bi-monthly policy, RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said, "Recovery in domestic economic activity is yet to be broad-based, as private consumption and contact-intensive services remain below pre-pandemic levels."

Guilty Minds Review

Guilty Minds Review

Rediff.com22 Apr 2022

Guilty Minds has too much going on to wolf down it all in one big binge watch session, notes Sukanya Verma.

Cabinet okays 9 telecom reforms: 100% FDI, 4-year stay on dues and more

Cabinet okays 9 telecom reforms: 100% FDI, 4-year stay on dues and more

Rediff.com15 Sep 2021

In big bang reforms, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a relief package for the telecom sector that includes a four-year moratorium on payment of statutory dues by telecom companies as well as allowing 100 per cent foreign investment through the automatic route. Briefing reporters on the decisions taken by the Cabinet, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said nine structural reforms for the telecom sector were approved. The definition of AGR, which had been a major reason for the stress in the sector, has been rationalised by excluding non-telecom revenue of telecom companies.

Over 15 single-use plastic items will be prohibited from Jul 1, 2022

Over 15 single-use plastic items will be prohibited from Jul 1, 2022

Rediff.com13 Aug 2021

The manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of following single-use plastic, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene, commodities shall be prohibited with effect from July 1, 2022: ear buds with plastic sticks, plastic sticks for balloons, plastic flags, candy sticks, ice-cream sticks, polystyrene (thermocol) for decoration; plates, cups, glasses, cutlery such as forks, spoons, knives, straw, trays; wrapping or packing films around sweet boxes, invitation cards, and cigarette packets, plastic or PVC banners less than 100 micron, stirrers, the notification read. The provisions will not apply to commodities made of compostable plastic, the notification said.

Budget targets are achievable: Sitharaman

Budget targets are achievable: Sitharaman

Rediff.com2 Feb 2022

At the customary post-Budget media interactions, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her topmost bureaucrats touched upon a number of issues. The minister said the government taxing income from digital virtual assets did not give them legitimacy and that issue was being dealt separately in the planned cryptocurrency Bill. She also expressed confidence that the Budget targets were achievable.

Economic growth will only move upwards: Shaktikanta Das

Economic growth will only move upwards: Shaktikanta Das

Rediff.com5 Feb 2021

Stressing that economic growth will only move upwards, the Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das on Friday pegged the GDP growth rate for the next financial year at 10.5 per cent, though a tad lower than the government's projection of 11 per cent. The projection is in line with the estimates in the Union Budget 2021-22 presented in Parliament earlier this week. The Economic Survey, tabled by the government in Parliament recently, has projected that the economy will grow at 11 per cent, up from an estimated historic decline of 7.7 per cent in 2020-21, on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sitharaman: 'We have spent, we have spent, we have spent...'

Sitharaman: 'We have spent, we have spent, we have spent...'

Rediff.com1 Feb 2021

The government has decided to spend big on infrastructure across a wide variety of sectors to give a greater impetus to the economy which is recovering from the impact of Covid-19, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.

Corporate-run banks: Will depositors benefit?

Corporate-run banks: Will depositors benefit?

Rediff.com2 Dec 2020

The most common complaint of financial consumers is cumbersome processes, complicated products, usurious charges, and mis-selling of products, which finally don't deliver what is promised or as expect, notes Debashis Basu.

Amul hikes milk prices by Rs 2 per litre

Amul hikes milk prices by Rs 2 per litre

Rediff.com30 Jun 2021

Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), which markets milk and other dairy products under the Amul brand, will hike milk prices by Rs 2 per litre across India from July 1 due to an increase in input costs. The increase of Rs 2 per litre translates into a four per cent hike in MRP (Maximum Retail Price) which is much lower than average food inflation, GCMMF said in a statement on Wednesday. "We have increased Amul milk prices by Rs 2 per litre across all markets.

Bharat Biotech to make 900 million Covaxin vaccines

Bharat Biotech to make 900 million Covaxin vaccines

Rediff.com1 Jun 2021

500 million doses per annum from its two sites in Hyderabad and 200 million doses each from its Ankleshwar and Kolar facilities.