News for 'Mechanics and Electricity'

Govt revises gas pricing formula; CNG, piped cooking gas to cost 10% less

Govt revises gas pricing formula; CNG, piped cooking gas to cost 10% less

Rediff.com6 Apr 2023

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a revision in the formula for pricing of natural gas and imposed cap or ceiling price to help cut CNG and piped cooking gas prices by up to 10 per cent. Natural gas produced from legacy or old fields, known as APM gas, will now be indexed to the price of imported crude oil instead of benchmarking it to gas prices in four surplus nations such as the US, Canada and Russia, Union I&B Miniser Anurag Thakur told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet. APM gas will be priced at 10 per cent of the price of basket of crude oil that India imports (Indian basket of crude oil).

Indian tea companies smell opportunity as Sri Lanka crisis brews

Indian tea companies smell opportunity as Sri Lanka crisis brews

Rediff.com26 Apr 2022

As the economic crisis in Sri Lanka - the world's largest exporter of orthodox tea - continues to rage across the island nation, tea producers in India look to cash in on the opportunity to seize the market. The country's largest tea growing company, McLeod Russel India, expects orders to come in from July. "A huge opportunity is coming up for everyone in India. "McLeod Russel is well placed because we have the capacity for orthodox tea," said Azam Monem, director, McLeod Russel. About 10 per cent of McLeod's production is orthodox tea.

10 jobs that are in-demand in India

10 jobs that are in-demand in India

Rediff.com2 Mar 2020

According to a report by ManpowerGroup India, Indian MBAs are more in demand than IT professionals.

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.

Why's Stalin Backing Arrested Minister?

Why's Stalin Backing Arrested Minister?

Rediff.com15 Jun 2023

At the end of the day, Stalin expressing solidarity with an arrested colleague is one thing, especially if he too felt that the minister had been wronged, but for him to retain the person in office sets a bad precedent, which would not go unnoticed by voters, points out N Sathiya Moorthy.

New IT rules to put legal obligations on social media platforms: Govt

New IT rules to put legal obligations on social media platforms: Govt

Rediff.com29 Oct 2022

India's tweaking of IT rules allow formation of Centre-appointed panels, that will settle often-ignored user grievances against content decision of social media companies, Minister of State for IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, adding that this was necessitated due to the "casual" and "tokenism" approach of digital platforms towards user complaints so far.

World University Rankings: Non-IITs in Top 100

World University Rankings: Non-IITs in Top 100

Rediff.com11 Apr 2022

The Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences. The Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad. Vinay Umarji explains why these two universities have made India proud.

5 Indian-Americans awarded 2020 Guggenheim fellowship

5 Indian-Americans awarded 2020 Guggenheim fellowship

Rediff.com14 Apr 2020

Pradeep Sharma, mechanical engineer at the University of Houston, Kavita Ramanan, professor of Applied Mathematics at Brown University, Dilip Da Cunha, architect, planner and teacher at Harvard University and Columbia University, Mukul Sharma, professor of Earth Sciences at Dartmouth College, and Tahera Qutbuddin, professor of Arabic Literature and Islamic Studies at the University of Chicago, have been awarded the 2020 Guggenheim fellowships.

Nepal: A dramatic political turn amid a turbulent 2022

Nepal: A dramatic political turn amid a turbulent 2022

Rediff.com29 Dec 2022

Nepal witnessed political turbulence in 2022 that dramatically turned rivals into allies and throned former guerrilla leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' as the prime minister for a third time, as Kathmandu made efforts to balance ties with immediate neighbours India and China with high-profile talks and visits.

Planning to buy an e-car? Do read this

Planning to buy an e-car? Do read this

Rediff.com11 Jun 2018

Parts of electric cars are costlier and repairing often means replacing an entire system, which drives insurance premium rates up.

A decade since the detection of God Particle: Why it matters

A decade since the detection of God Particle: Why it matters

Rediff.com26 Jul 2022

The Higgs filled a gap with its explanation for mass. Knowing the exact characteristics of the Higgs allows scientists to make better guesses of the structure of the universe in the first 10 microseconds after the Big Bang, says Devangshu Datta.

India's exports to China grow 16.15% to $21bn in 2020

India's exports to China grow 16.15% to $21bn in 2020

Rediff.com23 Feb 2021

India's exports to China have increased by 16.15 per cent to USD 20.87 billion in 2020 from USD 17.9 billion in the previous year on account of healthy growth in the shipments of ores, iron and steel, aluminum and copper, according to the data of the commerce ministry.

Will govt restart rupee-rouble trade?

Will govt restart rupee-rouble trade?

Rediff.com10 Mar 2022

The government may soon give the green light to bilateral trade between Russia and India in their national currencies to avoid any trade disruptions, multiple people aware of the matter said. While the Department of Commerce has recommended the proposal, an announcement is likely to be made by the finance ministry after further deliberations between the Department of Economic Affairs and Department of Financial Services. "The finance ministry will take a call on how to peg the two currencies," a senior government official told Business Standard. In the past, the two nations have had rupee-rouble trade, and when such an arrangement is implemented again, it will bypass the sanctions imposed on Russia by the West.

4 major things 47th GST Council is likely to discuss

4 major things 47th GST Council is likely to discuss

Rediff.com28 Jun 2022

The 47th GST Council meeting that is currently underway is slated to discuss a host of issues, including a mechanism for compensating states for revenue loss, tax rate tweaks in some items and relaxed registration norms for small online suppliers. Further, the meeting of the Council, chaired by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising state counterparts, will also clear levying the highest tax of 28 per cent on online games, casinos and horse racing, besides, measures to curb tax evasion, especially devising ways to tackle high-risk taxpayers in GST. "The meeting is being chaired by Hon'ble Union Minister of Finance @nsitharaman and many important decisions are expected to be taken at the meet," PIB Chandigarh tweeted.

Brahmos successfully test-fired from Sukhoi fighter jet for first time

Brahmos successfully test-fired from Sukhoi fighter jet for first time

Rediff.com23 Nov 2017

The missile hit a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal from the combat jet.

It's the Centre not states who don't want GST on fuel

It's the Centre not states who don't want GST on fuel

Rediff.com12 Mar 2021

Many states are open to the idea of petrol and diesel being brought under the goods and services tax (GST) regime - contrary to the perception that they are averse to it - but they want a concrete proposal, including a compensation mechanism, from the Centre. West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra says while the issue can be discussed, the Centre may not be keen to bring the change because it earns "much more" from taxes on petrol and diesel. "(The peak rate of) GST is 28 per cent. Under the regime, the Centre would only get 14 per cent. "So, definitely, the Union government does not want GST on fuel. It is all lies. Currently, they are in a very cozy place," Mitra said.

Vande Bharat gets back on track after myriad controversies, vigilance probe

Vande Bharat gets back on track after myriad controversies, vigilance probe

Rediff.com27 Apr 2022

On August 15 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort that the Indian Railways would launch 75 Vande Bharat Express trains by August 2023. Later, in her 2022 Budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that 400 Vande Bharat trains will be manufactured in the next three years, which are expected to cost between Rs 40,000 crore and Rs 50,000 crore. Those upbeat announcements come after a series of cancelled tenders, vigilance actions against officials and interdepartmental rivalry that delayed the addition of these iconic trains developed entirely indigenously by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai.

Child sells bird food to help ailing sister

Child sells bird food to help ailing sister

Rediff.com13 Aug 2021

The Hottest Videos of the Week!

UP, Bihar, J'khand among poorest states; Kerala, Goa have lowest poverty: Niti

UP, Bihar, J'khand among poorest states; Kerala, Goa have lowest poverty: Niti

Rediff.com26 Nov 2021

Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh have emerged as the poorest states in India, according to Niti Aayog's first Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) report. As per the index, 51.91 per cent population of Bihar is poor, followed 42.16 per cent in Jharkhand, 37.79 per cent in Uttar Pradesh. While Madhya Pradesh (36.65 per cent) has been placed fourth in the index, Meghalaya (32.67 per cent) is at the fifth spot. Kerala (0.71 per cent), Goa (3.76 per cent), Sikkim (3.82 per cent), Tamil Nadu (4.89 per cent) and Punjab (5.59 per cent) have registered the lowest poverty across India and are at the bottom of the index.

Will GST rate on EVs be cut to 5%?

Will GST rate on EVs be cut to 5%?

Rediff.com20 Jun 2019

GST rate for petrol and diesel cars and hybrid vehicles is already at the highest bracket of 28 per cent plus cess.

India sees sharp rise in cyber attacks as internet base continues to widen

India sees sharp rise in cyber attacks as internet base continues to widen

Rediff.com15 Aug 2022

Even as India's internet base continues to widen, with the country set to have over 900 internet users by 2025, a parallel rise in cyber threats has become a matter of huge concern. Experts say that the sudden surge in digital adoption left little time to develop a cybersecurity backbone for the country. This has put large amounts of data at risk.

Full text: President Murmu's address to Parliament's Budget Session

Full text: President Murmu's address to Parliament's Budget Session

Rediff.com31 Jan 2023

'Wherever in the world there is political instability, those countries are beset with severe crises today. But India is in a much better position than the rest of the world due to the decisions taken by my government in the national interest,' President Droupadi Murmu said in her address to both Houses of Parliament.

Gujarat again tops NITI's Export Preparedness Index

Gujarat again tops NITI's Export Preparedness Index

Rediff.com25 Mar 2022

Gujarat, for the second consecutive year, has topped the Niti Aayog's Export Preparedness Index 2021 which is aimed at assessing the readiness of the states in terms of their export potential and performance. Gujarat was followed by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, according to the government think tank's report. Union territories and states like Lakshadweep, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Ladakh and Meghalaya were placed at the bottom.

Specialise in engineering

Specialise in engineering

Rediff.com10 May 2006

The Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, invites applications for admission to its M Tech and PhD programmes.

2 Indian Americans likely to be in Biden admin's cabinet

2 Indian Americans likely to be in Biden admin's cabinet

Rediff.com18 Nov 2020

Murthy, who currently is the top Indian-American advisor to President-elect Joe Biden on COVID-19, is a potential pick for the post of Secretary of Health and Human Services and Stanford University Professor Arun Majumdar for the post of Secretary of Energy, The Washington Post and Politico said in their reports on Tuesday that mentions a list of potential picks for various Cabinet-level positions in the Biden administration.

GDP growth rebounds to 20.1% in Q1 on low base

GDP growth rebounds to 20.1% in Q1 on low base

Rediff.com31 Aug 2021

India's economic growth surged to 20.1 per cent in the April-June quarter of this fiscal, helped by a low base of the year-ago period, despite a devastating second wave of COVID-19. The gross domestic product (GDP) had contracted by 24.4 per cent in the corresponding April-June quarter of 2020-21, according to data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Tuesday. The government had imposed a nationwide lockdown at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last year.

Number of farmers at Ghazipur protest site goes down

Number of farmers at Ghazipur protest site goes down

Rediff.com20 Nov 2021

However, the farmers are still protesting, demanding a law on MSP. Besides MSP, the farmers are also demanding a resolution for the livelihood of the families of the 700 farmers who died while protesting against the three farm laws.

What is the biggest threat to India's e-vehicle dream?

What is the biggest threat to India's e-vehicle dream?

Rediff.com10 Jan 2018

E-vehicles may face pollution hurdle with hazardous batteries. One lithium-ion battery has a potential to poison the whole water aquifer of Delhi.

Admiral Arun Prakash: 'Objectives of Agnipath are more political than military'

Admiral Arun Prakash: 'Objectives of Agnipath are more political than military'

Rediff.com7 Jul 2022

'It seems unlikely that a recruit will make a useful contribution as member of a combat unit.'

Soon, smartphone case with touchscreen display

Soon, smartphone case with touchscreen display

Rediff.com19 Apr 2016

Everyday motions can generate enough energy to be converted to electricity.

Alloy steel: Hike customs duty on output

Alloy steel: Hike customs duty on output

Rediff.com14 Mar 2012

The common examples of alloy steel are Stain less steel, Silicon Electrical steel and High Speed Steel.

Rorschach, Mammootty and the Unfeeling Indian Hero

Rorschach, Mammootty and the Unfeeling Indian Hero

Rediff.com10 Nov 2022

After a lifetime of showing us what it means to 'act at the top of one's bent and never hit a false note', Mammootty had the good sense, in the third act of his career, to pare down his style, become less mannered, draw directly from life. And getting a performer like that to play characters who seem 'completely dead inside', is, in my view, a betrayal of his legacy, his still-burning ambition, and his still-sharp feelers, observes Sreehari Nair.

RBI retains growth forecast at 9.5% for FY22

RBI retains growth forecast at 9.5% for FY22

Rediff.com8 Oct 2021

The Reserve Bank on Friday retained the GDP forecast for the current financial year at 9.5 per cent and flagged global semiconductor shortages, elevated commodity prices and potential global financial market volatility as downside risks to economic growth. In his address after the three-day meeting of the rate-setting panel, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said recovery in aggregate demand gathered pace in August-September, and it is reflected in high-frequency indicators, like railway freight traffic; port cargo; cement production; electricity demand; e-way bills; GST and toll collections. "The ebbing of infections, together with improving consumer confidence, has been supporting private consumption," he said, and added the pent-up demand and the festival season should give further fillip to urban demand in the second half of the financial year.

Didn't ask rape accused to marry victim: CJI

Didn't ask rape accused to marry victim: CJI

Rediff.com8 Mar 2021

Several women's rights activists, eminent citizens, intellectuals, writers and artistes had also penned an open letter to the chief justice demanding an apology and retraction of the remarks.

Housing prices remain steady during the 2 Covid waves

Housing prices remain steady during the 2 Covid waves

Rediff.com31 Jan 2022

Housing sales mostly declined during the first and the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic but prices did not fall in most of the cities but rather increased in some cities, according to the Economic Survey 2021-22. The pre-Budget document also highlighted that the housing demand recovered after both the waves on the back of pent up demand, low interest rates on home loans and reduction in stamp duty by some states. The survey has analysed the National Housing Bank's data on change in housing transactions in Q1FY21 (first COVID-19 wave) and Q1FY22 (second COVID-19 wave) over the pre-pandemic levels of Q1FY20. It also looked into change in housing prices index during this 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.

10 Most Popular Stocks

10 Most Popular Stocks

Rediff.com2 May 2022

10 stocks which are most popular with brokerages right now and are expected to deliver maximum upside over the next 12 months.

Modi to present India's climate action plan at COP26 summit

Modi to present India's climate action plan at COP26 summit

Rediff.com31 Oct 2021

During his three-day UK visit until Tuesday, Modi is listed to address the COP26 summit with a national statement about India's climate action plan in the afternoon session on Monday, ahead of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Top oppn leaders issue joint statement backing farmers' stir

Top oppn leaders issue joint statement backing farmers' stir

Rediff.com6 Dec 2020

The representatives of thousands of agitating farmers, who are sitting on various borders of the national capital since November 26 demanding repeal of the three agri laws, have said that the countrywide strike on Tuesday would be observed with full force.

Covid-19: India's auto component makers brace for a bumpy ride ahead

Covid-19: India's auto component makers brace for a bumpy ride ahead

Rediff.com17 May 2021

Auto component makers in India are bracing for a tough time. High absenteeism among workers owing to Covid-19, shortages of critical parts, and temporary closures of plants by automobile manufacturers have thrown a spanner in the works for the Rs 3.2-trillion sector, which derives 60 per cent of its revenues from automobile original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), with the balance split equally between replacement demand and exports. Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India on Saturday said it was extending the maintenance shutdown, which was from May 1 to 9, till May 16, "keeping in view the current pandemic situation". Some activities will continue in the plants.