News for 'Customs department'

Despite security risks, 95% Indian cos to continue with WFH

Despite security risks, 95% Indian cos to continue with WFH

Rediff.com15 Jul 2021

The survey covered 1,210 IT executives and technology professionals from North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and India. In India, 202 respondents from businesses with more than 500 employees across 18 industry verticals completed the survey. Overall, 89 per cent of the respondents said implementing a work-from-home policy had increased security challenges for their organisations. The risk posed by shadow IT was especially high, with 89 per cent of companies having no control over the software that employees purchase and install on their devices.

Norms for voice BPOs eased to make India global outsourcing hub

Norms for voice BPOs eased to make India global outsourcing hub

Rediff.com23 Jun 2021

To cement India's position as a preferred global outsourcing destination, the government on Wednesday liberalised guidelines for voice-based BPOs removing the distinction between domestic and international units as well as permitting interconnectivity between all types of OSP centres. Broadly, the rules would allow global companies, say an airline, with a voice-based centre in India to now serve global and domestic customers with common telecom resources, something that required dedicated, separate infrastructure previously. Moreover, the restrictions on data interconnectivity between any BPO (business process outsourcing) centre of the same company, a group company or any unrelated company has been done away with, allowing for massive flexibility in resource management for BPO operations.

GST fraud probe into BharatPe finds deals with non-existent vendors

GST fraud probe into BharatPe finds deals with non-existent vendors

Rediff.com6 Mar 2022

An audit conducted by professional services firm Alvarez and Marsal confirms fintech firm's dealings with fake or non-existent vendors.

India's heaviest rocket blasts off with OneWeb India's 36 broadband satellites

India's heaviest rocket blasts off with OneWeb India's 36 broadband satellites

Rediff.com23 Oct 2022

The heaviest rocket of the Indian Space Research Organisation -- LVM3-M2/OneWeb India-1 -- blasted off from the Sriharikota spaceport on Sunday to place 36 broadband communication satellites into the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for a UK-based customer.

Microsoft gives ONDC its first Big Tech push

Microsoft gives ONDC its first Big Tech push

Rediff.com10 Aug 2022

Microsoft has become the first global Big Tech company to join the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), an Indian government initiative for developing a first-of-its-kind open network for digital commerce. The world's second-largest technology firm intends to introduce social e-commerce via its app in the Indian market later this year. ONDC is expected to open to the public in Bengaluru over the next fortnight as it enters into the next phase of the pilot for further fine-tuning before rollouts in other cities, according to a source in the know.

Kolkata's iconic Coffee House reopens after 103 days

Kolkata's iconic Coffee House reopens after 103 days

Rediff.com2 Jul 2020

The place, a melting pot of people from the world of art and culture for decades, had downed its shutters on March 20 this year after the West Bengal government imposed a lockdown.

Udaan lays off about 180 employees in a move to drive cost-efficiency

Udaan lays off about 180 employees in a move to drive cost-efficiency

Rediff.com29 Jun 2022

Udaan - India's largest business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce company - has laid off about 180 employees, or 4-5 per cent of its workforce of 4,000, in a move to drive cost efficiency, revealed sources. They said the layoffs have happened across various department functions. The layoffs have happened at a time when the Bengaluru-based firm is trying to turn into a publicly listed entity in 18-24 months.

Prefix '0' for all landline to mobile calls from Jan 15

Prefix '0' for all landline to mobile calls from Jan 15

Rediff.com26 Nov 2020

From January 15, callers will have to dial numbers with prefix '0' for making calls from landline to mobile phone. Announcing the decision, the communications ministry said the move would free up sufficient numbering resources for future use, and nearly 2,539 million numbering series are expected to be generated as a result. There will be no change with respect to dialling numbers for fixed-to fixed, mobile-to-fixed, and mobile-to-mobile calls.

What Sitharaman did after becoming the finance minister

What Sitharaman did after becoming the finance minister

Rediff.com3 Jun 2019

This is not her first stint in North Block or in leading a major economic ministry. She started Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first term as minister of state for finance, was made the commerce minister, and then became the defence minister.

Union seeks transport, police protection for bank staff

Union seeks transport, police protection for bank staff

Rediff.com29 Mar 2020

Anticipating a sudden and huge crowd in bank branches following the announcement of various measures by the government on Friday, the AIBEA said since the number of employees in bank branches are very few, the crowds can pose a big risk for the bank staff as well as for the customers who might be visiting in large numbers.

Vanita Gupta becomes 1st Indian-American to be US associate attorney general

Vanita Gupta becomes 1st Indian-American to be US associate attorney general

Rediff.com22 Apr 2021

From 2014 to 2017, Gupta served as the assistant attorney general for civil rights under President Barack Obama, where she advanced criminal justice reform, prosecuted hate crimes, protected voting rights and fought against discrimination.

Delhi allows home delivery of liquor for orders placed on app, website

Delhi allows home delivery of liquor for orders placed on app, website

Rediff.com1 Jun 2021

The move will boost the government's revenue at a time when Delhi's economy is struggling in view of the Covid-induced lockdown that has been in place since April 19.

Vodafone Idea hikes tariff as it struggles to pay dues

Vodafone Idea hikes tariff as it struggles to pay dues

Rediff.com2 Dec 2020

The latest move, even if it is symbolic, is the first rate hike after the one announced end of 2019.

Delhi-Doha flight makes emergency landing in Karachi

Delhi-Doha flight makes emergency landing in Karachi

Rediff.com21 Mar 2022

A Qatar Airways Delhi-Doha passenger plane was diverted to Karachi on Monday after it declared an emergency due to indication of smoke in the cargo hold, the airline said.

18 states to impose stock limits on edible oils ahead of Diwali

18 states to impose stock limits on edible oils ahead of Diwali

Rediff.com26 Oct 2021

In order to check the abnormal surge in edible oil prices during Diwali festivities, as many as 18 states are in the process of imposing stock holding limits on oilseeds and edible oils after being empowered by the Centre for doing so. Of the 18 states that are in the process of imposing stock limit on my edible oils apart from UP, include Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Of the 18, Uttar Pradesh, has already imposed stock limits on edible oils, the Centre was informed with as many as 23 states to discuss ways and means to ensure further easing of edible oil prices.

Family of 4 Indians freezes to death along US-Canada border

Family of 4 Indians freezes to death along US-Canada border

Rediff.com22 Jan 2022

The Manitoba Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on Thursday said that the bodies of four people -- two adults, a teen and an infant -- were found on the Canadian side of the US-Canada border near Emerson.

Beware of Chinese honey!

Beware of Chinese honey!

Rediff.com26 Dec 2020

Chinese companies have 'designed' the sugar syrup which is used to adulterate honey so that it can pass Indian laboratory tests, reveals Sunita Narain.

Covid leaves Surat's textile mills in tatters

Covid leaves Surat's textile mills in tatters

Rediff.com12 Jul 2021

Since he lives locally, Harish Patel is one of the luckier migrant workers in Surat - in that his employer was able to squeeze in a single shift for him at the weaving unit in Kamrej in Gujarat - unlike others who went home for Holi and other festivals just as the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic was waxing and ended up stranded in local lockdowns.

ICICI Lombard to use AI in processing insurance claims quickly

ICICI Lombard to use AI in processing insurance claims quickly

Rediff.com19 Sep 2018

The artificial intelligence-based system aims to authorise cashless claims within 60-90 seconds and bring the turnaround time for investigations down to a one day, or even a few hours.

Gold-hungry traders tap Indians living abroad

Gold-hungry traders tap Indians living abroad

Rediff.com25 Dec 2013

Non-resident Indians are bringing gold into the country by taking advantage of rules that allow each individual to carry 1 kg of the metal, helping traders cope with restrictions on imports during the peak wedding season.

Coronavirus: India mulls imposing duties on Chinese imports

Coronavirus: India mulls imposing duties on Chinese imports

Rediff.com1 Mar 2020

The issue is set to be discussed early next week as the commerce department meets with industry bodies to discuss the widening supply gap for key imports.

Ask Anil: Your Tax Queries Answered

Ask Anil: Your Tax Queries Answered

Rediff.com4 Feb 2021

Anil Rego, CEO, Right Horizons, answers your personal income tax queries.

Coronavirus scare: Manufacturers, retailers flock to offices of ministries

Coronavirus scare: Manufacturers, retailers flock to offices of ministries

Rediff.com21 Feb 2020

From the rollback of customs duty on key electronic components to fast tracking delivery of goods imported from China, players are looking for incentives on several counts.

If Voda Idea shuts shop, Airtel to gain the most

If Voda Idea shuts shop, Airtel to gain the most

Rediff.com11 Dec 2019

If Vodafone Idea shuts, a bulk of the high-paying ARPU customers will move to Airtel as Reliance Jio does not have a comprehensive postpaid offering like it, and have aggressively preferred to play in the prepaid market. The bulk of Vodafone Idea customers use 2G phones and only a few of them use data. It will be easier for Airtel to woo these customers as they can shift seamlessly to its 2G network without changing handsets or even SIM cards,

Covid impact: Bank unions urge IBA for restriction in services

Covid impact: Bank unions urge IBA for restriction in services

Rediff.com22 Apr 2021

The unions also made a case for introduction of cluster or hub banking, identifying few branches of each bank in each locality so as to enable bank employees to work on rotation.

GST impact: Gold import surge from South Korea alarms govt

GST impact: Gold import surge from South Korea alarms govt

Rediff.com9 Aug 2017

Steps such as safeguard duty in the works to plug the route

How did Pandemic Affect Bank Deposits?

How did Pandemic Affect Bank Deposits?

Rediff.com27 Aug 2021

The correlation between withdrawal of deposits and the Covid death rate is stark, reveals Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Gold monetisation scheme: What you must know

Gold monetisation scheme: What you must know

Rediff.com11 Feb 2021

Banks and friendly neighbourhood jewellers can serve as good channels to provide liquidity for gold deposits with built-in incentives for them, suggests Harsh Roongta.

HDFC Bank, SBI, others not adhering to bulk SMS' norms

HDFC Bank, SBI, others not adhering to bulk SMS' norms

Rediff.com26 Mar 2021

The telecom regulator on Friday released a list of 40 "defaulter" principal entities, including large banks like HDFC Bank, SBI and ICICI Bank, that are not fulfilling the regulatory norms on bulk commercial messages despite repeated reminders. Hardening its stance on the issue, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) warned that defaulting entities should comply with the stipulated requirements by March 31, 2021 "to avoid any disruption in the communication with customers" from April 1, 2021. "As sufficient opportunity has been given to principal entities/ telemarketers to comply with the regulatory requirements and that the consumers cannot be deprived of the benefits of the regulatory provisions any further, therefore it has been decided that from April 1, 2021, any message failing in the scrubbing process due to non-compliance of regulatory requirements will be rejected" by the system, TRAI said in a statement.

Maha: Aurangabad to seize autos if drivers not vaxed even once

Maha: Aurangabad to seize autos if drivers not vaxed even once

Rediff.com23 Nov 2021

In a bid to ramp up anti-COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district, authorities have ordered impounding of autorickshaws if their drivers are found to have not taken even a single jab.

Time For RBI To Change Penalty Rules

Time For RBI To Change Penalty Rules

Rediff.com11 Nov 2021

Penalty must act as a deterrent. If it is too low, it could encourage the regulated entities to lap up penalty instead of complying with the norms, suggests Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Shopping in the times of coronavirus

Shopping in the times of coronavirus

Rediff.com17 Mar 2020

Shoppers around the world stood in long lines, waiting to buy essentials like toilet paper, pasta, bottled water, medicine and masks as a worsening coronavirus crisis stoked fears of shortages.

India's personal data protection bill may threaten innovation, growth: USTR

India's personal data protection bill may threaten innovation, growth: USTR

Rediff.com29 Apr 2022

The US on Thursday raised concerns over India's Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill and draft non-personal data governance framework, claiming these could potentially threaten innovation and economic growth. In its latest 'Special 301' Report, the US Trade Representative (USTR) kept India on the priority watch list, maintaining the country remains one of the world's most challenging major economies with respect to protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP). In December 2021, a joint parliamentary committee released a report recommending changes to the PDP Bill, 2019, that could undermine important IP protections in India.

Draft ecommerce policy to ensure goods sold online meet standards

Draft ecommerce policy to ensure goods sold online meet standards

Rediff.com15 Mar 2021

Conformity assessment procedures will be put in place to verify that goods and services sold on e-commerce platforms meet required standards and technical regulations, according to the draft e-commerce policy. The policy, which is under discussion, also stated that actions and things which cannot be done by the online platform entities "can also not be done" by any of its associates and related parties. Government may, from time to time, notify parties which fall in the definition of associates and related parties, it said.

Green signal for 5G trials but Chinese vendors kept out

Green signal for 5G trials but Chinese vendors kept out

Rediff.com5 May 2021

The Department of Telecom on Tuesday approved applications of telecom companies -- Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and MTNL -- for conducting 5G trials but none of them will be using technologies of Chinese entities. The list of telecom gear makers approved for trials include Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, C-DOT and Reliance Jio's indigenously developed technologies.

Visit A Doc Frequently? Opt For OPD Cover

Visit A Doc Frequently? Opt For OPD Cover

Rediff.com19 Apr 2022

Most traditional health insurance plans didn't cover the cost of such treatments earlier, but several recently launched policies do offer such coverage -- some as a rider, and a few as standalone covers, points out Sarbajeet K Sen.

Thai Premier refuses to resign as protesters block key roads

Thai Premier refuses to resign as protesters block key roads

Rediff.com14 Jan 2014

Thai protesters threatened to take Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra into "custody" and marched on several state buildings on the second day of a shutdown of Bangkok to force her to resign even as the embattled Premier rejected their demands to quit.

RBI may introduce quota system for gold importers

RBI may introduce quota system for gold importers

Rediff.com2 Dec 2014

Import in the first nine months of the current calendar year fell 20 per cent to 525 tonnes from 658 tonnes in the year-ago period.

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.