News for 'Indian Standard Time'

Govt should give cheaper loans to spur affordable home sales: Naredco prez

Govt should give cheaper loans to spur affordable home sales: Naredco prez

Rediff.com28 Aug 2024

The government should provide home loan up to 25 lakh at a lower interest rate of 5 per cent to the people of the middle class, a prominent realtors' body appealed to the government against the backdrop of soaring home prices. G Hari Babu, president of the National Real Estate Development Council (Naredco), in an online interaction with Business Standard, said that the middle class in India accounts for roughly 30 per cent of the total population and is dependent on rental accommodation.

Listed firms log record operating cash flow of Rs 11.1 trn in FY24

Listed firms log record operating cash flow of Rs 11.1 trn in FY24

Rediff.com2 Oct 2024

Indian companies are generating more cash than ever. The net cash flow from listed firms' operations hit a new high of Rs 11.1 trillion in financial year 2023-24 (FY24), crossing the Rs 10-trillion mark for the first time, according to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) data going back to 1990-91. The FY24 figure represents a 19.3 per cent jump over the previous year, even as quite a few companies are yet to release their numbers.

Fema tweaks on the cards to allow FPIs to seamlessly access FDI route

Fema tweaks on the cards to allow FPIs to seamlessly access FDI route

Rediff.com31 Aug 2024

The government is planning to introduce legislative changes to the Foreign Exchange Management Act (Fema) regulations, with a focus on easing the pathway for inflows from a foreign portfolio investor to transition seamlessly into foreign direct investments (FDI) once the FPI surpasses the 10 per cent ownership threshold in a company. This move stems from multiple requests by foreign investors seeking to streamline the reporting requirements that arise when their stakes in Indian firms cross the 10 per cent mark.

The Blue Revolution: Indian Cricket's Success Story

The Blue Revolution: Indian Cricket's Success Story

Rediff.com30 Nov 2023

It is a tribute to a system so robustly meritocratic that this team represents India's diversity better than any other institution: The Union Cabinet, our chief ministers, the civil services, the leadership of our armed forces and security agencies, the judiciary and more than all of these, our typical newsroom. That is the biggest message from this breathless rise of Indian cricket, asserts Shekhar Gupta.

'Yeh Patthar Nahin Todegi'

'Yeh Patthar Nahin Todegi'

Rediff.com24 Oct 2024

There was a memorable meeting with a 'tall, elegant, beautiful girl', who had recently finished her 12th in the strongly tribal Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh. 'I was shocked. In this whole sea of villages, I knew for sure there was no other 12th pass girl. I said I want to meet your father.' 'She brought her father, a daily-wage labourer. I asked him: "How come you decided to educate your girl till the 12th standard? You break stones for a living and you don't have a lot of money".' 'He just said one line and in that one line he said everything.'

'The EV Market Is Hotting Up'

'The EV Market Is Hotting Up'

Rediff.com21 Sep 2024

'A lot of players such as Maruti and Hyundai are entering the market in the first and the second quarters of 2025.'

Gurgaon's Rites to go aggressive on global export and consultancy tenders

Gurgaon's Rites to go aggressive on global export and consultancy tenders

Rediff.com6 Jun 2024

Recovering from an order dry-up and change in market conditions, Gurgaon-based Rites is looking to bid aggressively in global export and consultancy tenders and run with a volume-led approach, its chairman and managing director (CMD) Rahul Mithal said. Rites is a railway consultancy public sector undertaking (PSU) under the aegis of the Ministry of Railways. "We started the year with two huge challenges - the export order book, where no new orders had happened, and the opening up of Indian Railways quality assurance works to four players.

The Machine That Saved Tanishq

The Machine That Saved Tanishq

Rediff.com29 Aug 2024

Stories are legion about the Karatmeter's use at that time. Hundreds of people standing in queue for testing, customers breaking down after discovering the actual purity of their jewellery and then becoming irate about the jeweller who had gypped them, the local jewellery industry leaning heavily on the Tanishq franchisees to desist from using it, some jewellers even threatening violent action.

Our women boxers can win medals at Paris Olympics: Vijender

Our women boxers can win medals at Paris Olympics: Vijender

Rediff.com26 Jul 2024

'The girls will do well, I hope we get one or two medals. It could be a silver or may be even a gold.'

Govt notifies standards for mobiles, 14 other electronic items

Govt notifies standards for mobiles, 14 other electronic items

Rediff.com9 Nov 2014

The government has notified mandatory standards for 15 electronic products, including mobile phones, power banks, LED lamps, to curb flow of low quality items in the country.

Lava dials up ambitions for smart wearables market

Lava dials up ambitions for smart wearables market

Rediff.com20 Aug 2024

With the recent launch of smartwatches, home-grown smartphone maker Lava is looking to secure a strong foothold in the Indian wearables market. The company aims to capture up to 20 per cent of this segment over the next few years, according to a senior executive.

Cold coffee: Starbucks sacks CEO Laxman Narasimhan

Cold coffee: Starbucks sacks CEO Laxman Narasimhan

Rediff.com13 Aug 2024

In a surprise move, struggling multinational coffee chain Starbucks on Tuesday announced the appointment of Brian Niccol as chairman and chief executive officer replacing Indian-origin CEO Laxman Narasimhan who is stepping down.

Ola Maps navigating beyond 'western apps'

Ola Maps navigating beyond 'western apps'

Rediff.com9 Jul 2024

Bhavish Aggarwal, founder and chief executive officer of Ola, is encouraging developers to switch from Google Maps to Ola Maps. Ola is offering developers a year of free access to Ola Maps on the company's Krutrim Cloud and over Rs 100 crore in free credits. This initiative comes after Ola replaced Google Maps with its own Ola Maps, leading to annual savings of around Rs 100 crore.

Airfares Rise By 53% As Competition Fades

Airfares Rise By 53% As Competition Fades

Rediff.com5 Sep 2024

Indigo has zero competition on 61.2 per cent of its 838 domestic routes.

Is Karan Johar Planning To Sell Dharma?

Is Karan Johar Planning To Sell Dharma?

Rediff.com16 Oct 2024

Much of the discussion is happening at a "family level, not a corporate level". That means it is an Ambani or a Goenka in direct talks with Johar.

Quality Lapses Shut Down Drug Makers

Quality Lapses Shut Down Drug Makers

Rediff.com28 Jun 2024

Most of the pharma units are failing in documentation, and validation processes, and many don't have full-fledged quality control laboratories.

'Lacklustre Market Is Good Time To Invest'

'Lacklustre Market Is Good Time To Invest'

Rediff.com1 Nov 2023

'Historically, equities have consistently outperformed debt, gold, property, and other assets over a reasonable period.'

'I was in depression; thought of committing suicide': Harmilan Bains

'I was in depression; thought of committing suicide': Harmilan Bains

Rediff.com12 Sep 2024

Harmilan Bains revealed that she struggled with depression after missing the Paris Olympic Games because of injury.

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

How Government Is Making Use Of AI

Rediff.com9 Oct 2024

The National Informatics Centre uses AI to automate document analysis and detect fraud in government departments.

AI flight departs from Mumbai for Bucharest to evacuate Indians in Ukraine

AI flight departs from Mumbai for Bucharest to evacuate Indians in Ukraine

Rediff.com26 Feb 2022

The flight, AI1943, took off from the Mumbai airport around 3.40 am and is expected to land at the Bucharest airport around 10 am (Indian Standard Time), senior government officials said.

Paralympians Soar, But Await India Inc's Leap Of Faith

Paralympians Soar, But Await India Inc's Leap Of Faith

Rediff.com10 Sep 2024

'Historically, there hasn't been much representation around para-athletes from a brand perspective.' 'With their best medal tally in Paris, it has triggered considerable organic interest.'

What drove Toyota Kirloskar profit 3x in FY24

What drove Toyota Kirloskar profit 3x in FY24

Rediff.com5 Sep 2024

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 4,787 crore for 2023-24 (FY24) - more than three times the earnings recorded the previous year. This growth can be attributed to robust demand for its vehicles, particularly hybrid models and cross-badged cars from the Toyota-Suzuki alliance.

'Chaplus Must Be Thrown Out'

'Chaplus Must Be Thrown Out'

Rediff.com30 Aug 2024

'We used to give these boxers a hammering in the ring and now they are teaching youngsters how to defend. Come on man!' 'People like Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar were among the top boxers in the world, but instead of choosing them to train young boxers they are picking people who are yes men.'

Indian cricket team's fitness standards have improved, says physio Farhart

Indian cricket team's fitness standards have improved, says physio Farhart

Rediff.com10 Sep 2015

Insisting that fitness standards in Indian cricket have improved over the years, the national team's Australian physiotherapist Patrick Farhart says he closely monitors each member of the squad as the body-types of players differ considerably.

'IPOs Are In A Sweet Spot'

'IPOs Are In A Sweet Spot'

Rediff.com24 Sep 2024

'IPOs have performed exceptionally well, with a notable increase in average ticket size from Rs 800 crore in the last financial year to around Rs 1,300 crore in this financial year.'

1 lakh cases of love jihad, vote jihad in 14 LS seats: Fadnavis

1 lakh cases of love jihad, vote jihad in 14 LS seats: Fadnavis

Rediff.com1 Oct 2024

Addressing a public event in Kolhapur city on Monday evening, Fadnavis pointed out instances wherein women were tricked into inter-faith marriage and subsequently abandoned after they gave birth to children.

Are We A Nation With A Wayward Moral Compass?

Are We A Nation With A Wayward Moral Compass?

Rediff.com3 Sep 2024

'Violence is the human abuse of power and rape is one of its worst manifestations.' 'Especially, the R G Kar kind, which allegedly involves not just brutal rape and murder but also destruction of evidence, complicity of authorities, suppression of protests, people willing to defend the indefensible and a shameful persistence of all involved to hold on to their seats of power,' asserts Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).

Cyber commando unit on home ministry's 100-day agenda

Cyber commando unit on home ministry's 100-day agenda

Rediff.com25 Jun 2024

These "cyber commandos" will be different from personnel at cyber police stations and will work with local administration to tackle cyber threats.

India Needs A National Security Strategy

India Needs A National Security Strategy

Rediff.com4 Oct 2024

The National Security Strategy document should flag all major issues concerning security strategy and provide guidelines to concerned departments to work out suitable action plans. Since the global and regional geopolitical canvas is dynamic, the NSS document should be deliberated at length before formulation and should be reviewed periodically, recommends Commodore Venugopal Menon (retd).

'Kamala Harris Is Going To Win!'

'Kamala Harris Is Going To Win!'

Rediff.com29 Aug 2024

'The die is cast. The wave is for her.' 'We will win this. The numbers are going to be higher than people are saying.' 'It is going to be more closer to Obama's numbers than Biden's numbers.'

Olympics-bound sailor Saravanan adopts unique training

Olympics-bound sailor Saravanan adopts unique training

Rediff.com11 Jun 2024

Indian sailor Vishnu Saravanan is taking an unconventional approach to prepare for the Paris Olympics.

PV Sindhu aims for history-making gold in Paris

PV Sindhu aims for history-making gold in Paris

Rediff.com18 Jul 2024

Sindhu stands on the brink of history as she pursues the gold medal in the upcoming Games, having won a silver and bronze in 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo edition respectively.

Can Root Overtake Tendulkar?

Can Root Overtake Tendulkar?

Rediff.com24 Sep 2024

From January 1, 2021 to September 9, 2024 -- during which Joe Root hit 17 centuries, Kane Williamson has hit, Steve Smith has made six tons but Virat Kohli has managed just two centuries.

'If You Want To Invest Directly, Ensure...'

'If You Want To Invest Directly, Ensure...'

Rediff.com27 Aug 2024

'...you evaluate three key factors before committing your money.'

'It's time for caution, not expansion'

'It's time for caution, not expansion'

Rediff.com12 Apr 2023

'Silicon Valley people are generally used to layoffs.' 'Every person who has been in the industry for 15-20 years would have been laid off at least 3-4 times.' 'In India, we aren't used to that concept.' 'So when it came here, people were shocked.'

How Modi plans to tackle spiralling trade deficit with Russia

How Modi plans to tackle spiralling trade deficit with Russia

Rediff.com8 Jul 2024

India's trade deficit with Russia continued to widen for the second consecutive year to $57 billion in the financial year 2023-24 (FY24), with Moscow becoming New Delhi's largest source of crude oil imports. All eyes will now be on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Russia during July 8-9, where he is set to meet President Vladimir Putin. This will be Modi's first visit to the Kremlin since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began over two years ago.

Stanchart to continue focus on wealth management in India

Stanchart to continue focus on wealth management in India

Rediff.com27 Feb 2024

Standard Chartered's India strategy will focus on wealth management while credit card will remain core to its business though will avoid competition with the country's private banks, said a senior executive of the British lender. "Our focus on wealth management and affluent clients are central to our existence. "We are strong in these areas and we want to grow in these areas.

Where Have The Goldsmiths Disappeared?

Where Have The Goldsmiths Disappeared?

Rediff.com30 Aug 2024

Kurumbur in gold-loving Tamil Nadu was once a thriving centre for goldsmiths. Today their number is down to two.

'A tale of two talents': Rana and Bhaker's partnership

'A tale of two talents': Rana and Bhaker's partnership

Rediff.com28 Jul 2024

Jaspal Rana's obsession with shooting behind Manu's Olympic success

Visa on time: Embassies work to meet spike in applications by Indians

Visa on time: Embassies work to meet spike in applications by Indians

Rediff.com21 Jun 2022

Visa delays have perturbed Indian visitors this summer. But a solution could be in sight soon, as embassies gear up to address the challenges caused by a spike in applications and staff shortages. While the British High Commission has said it is working urgently to reduce the current visa processing time, the German Embassy has introduced extra shifts to process more visas. However, appointments with the latter are fully booked till August-end due to high volumes.