News for 'State for Micro'

Meetha Khazana: Diwali Recipes From All Over India

Meetha Khazana: Diwali Recipes From All Over India

Rediff.com9 Nov 2023

Diwali is a season in India for sweet-making. A treasure of traditional Diwali recipes from all corners of our India.

'Public Sector Banks Don't Like To Loan To MSMEs'

'Public Sector Banks Don't Like To Loan To MSMEs'

Rediff.com21 Jul 2022

'The approach today is, instead of giving loans to 100 MSMEs, let us give one loan to a big-ticket corporate.' 'And so many of these big fish deceived the banks and the banks are in the doldrums now with high NPAs.'

Gujarat court slams SC appointed SIT's probe into Naroda Gam riots case

Gujarat court slams SC appointed SIT's probe into Naroda Gam riots case

Rediff.com3 May 2023

A special court in Ahmedabad which acquitted all the 67 accused in the Naroda Gam post-Godhra riots case has criticised the probe conducted into it by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Supreme Court, and said the evidence of the prosecution's witnesses was full of contradictions and could not be relied upon.

Survey pegs 2024 economic growth at 6.5%

Survey pegs 2024 economic growth at 6.5%

Rediff.com31 Jan 2023

India's economy is projected to slow to 6.5 per cent in the fiscal year starting April but will remain the fastest growing major economy in the world as it fared better in dealing with the extraordinary set of challenges the globe has faced, the Economic Survey 2022-23 said on Tuesday. India's gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 6.5 per cent in 2023-24 compares with an estimated 7 per cent expansion in current fiscal year (April 2022 to March 2023) and 8.7 per cent in the previous year. Like the rest of the world, India too faced an extraordinary set of challenges in tightening financial conditions and supply chain disruptions from a prolonged war in Europe but "withstood them better than most economies", the annual document detailing the state of the economy said.

Court not a platform for propagating religion, only to deal with law: HC

Court not a platform for propagating religion, only to deal with law: HC

Rediff.com13 Apr 2022

The court made the point clear while hearing a batch of pleas by several account holders challenging their suspension and deletion by the social media platforms.

Why India's gig workforce is still outside purview of basic benefits

Why India's gig workforce is still outside purview of basic benefits

Rediff.com7 Apr 2023

If you have seen Zwigato, Param Kumar's story will sound familiar. Laid off from his job as a repairman at a Gurugram-based water purifier provider, he now delivers groceries and food for a mobile-based delivery app, in Delhi. Kumar, who started making deliveries last August, told Business Standard that he is working longer hours than his older salaried job as an RO repairman, and has no paid leaves or health insurance. Kumar is part of India's estimated 7.7 million-strong force of gig workers.

Hardik Patel drops Congress from Twitter bio, next step exit?

Hardik Patel drops Congress from Twitter bio, next step exit?

Rediff.com2 May 2022

Gujarat Congress working president Hardik Patel on Monday removed his designation and party poll symbol of 'hand' from his Twitter profile amid mounting speculation about his next political move after he launched a scathing attack on the state party leadership and praised the ruling BJP.

'India needs insurers catering to niche sectors like NBFCs, MFIs'

'India needs insurers catering to niche sectors like NBFCs, MFIs'

Rediff.com23 Dec 2022

India has a huge untapped population which doesn't have facilities for financial aid and insurance, and it is perhaps plausible to look at the option of having niche players catering to smaller sectors akin to non-banks and microfinance institutions in lending, said Rakesh Joshi, member (Finance & Investment), Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (Irdai). Speaking at the Business Standard BFSI Insight Summit, Joshi said, "Today, most of our insurance companies operate at a national level. There is arguably a case for having differentiated operations, which cater to niche sectors the same way we have non-banking financial companies (NBFC) and microfinance institutions in lending." "The capital requirement for niche players may not be as large as those having national ambitions. "Enabling these niche players, which require lower capital, will enhance the penetration in areas which hitherto had not seen traction from large players," he said.

Privatisation of PSBs gets bankers' thumbs up

Privatisation of PSBs gets bankers' thumbs up

Rediff.com22 Dec 2022

Exuding confidence in sustaining the tempo of credit growth, public sector bankers said on Wednesday that consolidation in the public sector bank (PSB) space has given them a robust base to scale. The privatisation of PSBs can be done through divestment of government stake to a wider base of investors without haste. There is nothing to worry about at this point (high credit offtake) as underwriting standards and risk management are much better.

No one dare eye a needlepoint of our land, says Amit Shah in Arunachal

No one dare eye a needlepoint of our land, says Amit Shah in Arunachal

Rediff.com11 Apr 2023

The era when anyone could encroach on India's land has passed and no one can dare to eye its border, Home Minister Amit Shah said in Kibithoo, Arunachal Pradesh, on Monday.

Not 1962 anymore: Arunachal CM on India-China border clash

Not 1962 anymore: Arunachal CM on India-China border clash

Rediff.com13 Dec 2022

'Our brave Indian soldiers don't reply to raining of bricks with mere sticks, they do so with iron rods'

GST: Success And The Way Forward

GST: Success And The Way Forward

Rediff.com12 Jul 2023

No longer a discretion of the tax administrator, the audit of returns filed by taxpayers is now based on a selection by algorithms, notes Tarun Bajaj.

Lingayats hold key for 50 seats in Kittur Karnataka region

Lingayats hold key for 50 seats in Kittur Karnataka region

Rediff.com7 Apr 2023

The Bharatiya Janata Party had won 30 of the total 50 seats in the region in the 2018 assembly polls, followed by Congress 17, Janata Dal-Secular 2, and others (KPJP-Shankar) 1.

'Huge demand for life insurance products in India'

'Huge demand for life insurance products in India'

Rediff.com1 Jan 2024

'As our per capita income increases and various demographic segments emerge, the need for various kinds of protection and risk covers will become even more explicit.'

'1ft-long ponytail': Giriraj, Tejashwi in Twitter spat over job promise

'1ft-long ponytail': Giriraj, Tejashwi in Twitter spat over job promise

Rediff.com12 Aug 2022

Tejashwi Yadav on Friday called out Union Minister Giriraj Singh for sharing an "edited video" of an interview to suggest that the young Rashtriya Janata Dal leader was going back on his promise to create 10 lakh jobs in the state.

Uddhav-Rane share stage at airport inauguration, take digs at each other

Uddhav-Rane share stage at airport inauguration, take digs at each other

Rediff.com9 Oct 2021

This is probably for the first time that the two former party colleagues-turned-opponents shared the stage after Rane's exit from the Shiv Sena, of which Thackeray is the president.

Eight months after rolling back farm laws, Centre sets up MSP panel

Eight months after rolling back farm laws, Centre sets up MSP panel

Rediff.com19 Jul 2022

Nearly eight months after the government repealed the three controversial farm Acts, it has constituted a high-powered panel under the chairmanship of former agriculture secretary Sanjay Agarwal to make the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism more effective and transparent as promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his televised address announcing the repeal. The names of three members from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), the main grouping that spearheaded the year-long agitation at Delhi's borders, have been withheld, pending receipt by the government, stated a gazette notification. NITI Aayog member Ramesh Chand, Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad Professor Sukhpal Singh, Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative chairman Dilip Sanghani, secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Food and Consumer Affairs, Cooperation and Textiles, along with representatives from the state governments of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, and Odisha will also form part of the panel.

Loans to get more expensive as banks hike lending rates

Loans to get more expensive as banks hike lending rates

Rediff.com10 Jun 2022

A day after the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) Monetary Policy Committee hiked the policy repo rate by 50 basis points (bps), several commercial banks, including ICICI Bank and Bank of Baroda, raised their external benchmark-linked loan rates by an equal amount on Thursday. HDFC, the country's largest mortgage lender, too, increased its interest rates on housing loans by another 50 bps. In total, it has raised rates by 85 bps since May 4, when the RBI had increased the repo rate by 40 bps in an off-cycle meeting.

Dorsey, govt in tweetstorm over Twitter ex-CEO's armtwisting charge

Dorsey, govt in tweetstorm over Twitter ex-CEO's armtwisting charge

Rediff.com13 Jun 2023

Union minister Rajeev Chandrashekar on Tuesday rejected Dorsey's claim, calling it an "outright lie" and "an attempt to brush out that very dubious period" of firm's history.

Modi's close aide made UP BJP vice president

Modi's close aide made UP BJP vice president

Rediff.com19 Jun 2021

Known for delivering time-bound results, Sharma earned Modi's confidence as his secretary during his tenure as the Gujarat chief minister by successfully handling the Vibrant Gujarat campaign to get investments to the state.

Bhupendra Patel takes oath as Gujarat CM, allots portfolios

Bhupendra Patel takes oath as Gujarat CM, allots portfolios

Rediff.com13 Dec 2022

Patel was administered the oath as the 18th chief minister by Governor Acharya Devvrat at a function held at the Helipad Ground near the new Secretariat.

Kharge extends hand to parties to defeat BJP, says ready for sacrifices

Kharge extends hand to parties to defeat BJP, says ready for sacrifices

Rediff.com25 Feb 2023

In the prevailing difficult circumstances, the Congress is the only party that can provide capable and decisive leadership to the country, Kharge asserted.

'Investment not gathering momentum will be a big risk factor for the economy'

'Investment not gathering momentum will be a big risk factor for the economy'

Rediff.com18 Feb 2022

'The government is trying to kickstart the investment cycle in India and while the corporate investments are yet to gather momentum, there are early signs of the same.'

How real is Modi govt's concern for MSMEs?

How real is Modi govt's concern for MSMEs?

Rediff.com17 Jun 2020

While the Narendra Modi government has stuck to its stand that pending payment is Rs 12,343 crore, MSMEs calim outstanding amount is Rs 2-3 trillion. Moreover, MSME ministry's SAMADHAN portal has been of little help.

MVA allies kept in loop about Pawar-Modi meeting: NCP

MVA allies kept in loop about Pawar-Modi meeting: NCP

Rediff.com17 Jul 2021

NCP spokesperson and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik said that AICC general secretary H K Patil was told about this scheduled meeting when he and other Congress leaders met Pawar in Mumbai recently.

Nothing To Not Like In The Budget

Nothing To Not Like In The Budget

Rediff.com8 Feb 2023

Could it have been more reformist? Of course, but this is an election year Budget, observes Akash Prakash.

Bengal shuts schools, colleges; restricts flights from Delhi, Mumbai

Bengal shuts schools, colleges; restricts flights from Delhi, Mumbai

Rediff.com2 Jan 2022

Local trains will be allowed to operate with 50 per cent capacity till 7 pm, while all shopping malls and markets will be allowed to remain open till 10 pm but with half their capacities, he said.

Why it makes sense for banks to lend to MSMEs

Why it makes sense for banks to lend to MSMEs

Rediff.com19 May 2020

'In times of recovery, we may see a rural-urban divide with the urban pockets affected more by COVID-19, but the MFI business model should encourage banks to handhold them in this hour of crisis,' notes Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

The Election Festival Is Here!

The Election Festival Is Here!

Rediff.com18 Oct 2022

After the Gujarat and Himachal elections and the municipal polls in Mumbai and Delhi, Karnataka, Rajasthan, MP and Chhattisgarh will elect new assemblies next year leading up to the Lok Sabha election in April-May 2024, points out Virendra Kapoor.

'BCG vaccine can be a game-changer against coronavirus'

'BCG vaccine can be a game-changer against coronavirus'

Rediff.com9 Apr 2020

'There is indeed a link between BCG vaccination and resistance to COVID-19.'

Who Will Win Jalandhar Lok Sabha Seat?

Who Will Win Jalandhar Lok Sabha Seat?

Rediff.com10 May 2023

polls

How start-ups are shaking up offline pharma business

How start-ups are shaking up offline pharma business

Rediff.com3 Aug 2022

Bulk of the medicine sales in the $22-24 billion domestic pharma market happens through offline retail chemists. With the entry of online pharmacies, this space has started to witness a shake-up. Sample this: Dawaa Dost, a Rajasthan based digital health start-up, generates medicine orders from 'kirana' stores and women self-help groups (SHGs) that operate in villages, and then service these orders through its affiliated network of pharmacies. Biddano, another health-tech start-up, has a platform that acts as an aggregator for neighbourhood chemist shops.

India's unabated tryst with Russian crude oil is slowly coming to an end

India's unabated tryst with Russian crude oil is slowly coming to an end

Rediff.com2 May 2023

India's unabated tryst with Russian crude oil is slowly coming to an end. The time has come for Indian refiners to navigate, creatively, the choppy waters of the post-honeymoon period, and for Indian policymakers to take cognisance of the broader impact on India from the spillover of the Russian crisis - after Washington's warning to transgressors last week. Shipments from Russia to India have averaged over 1.8 million barrels a day since February, according to data from Paris-based market analytics firm Kpler. But much of the crude shipped to India was non-sanctioned because it traded below a price cap set by the US led G-7 nations in December.

Govt's new draft rules make it easier to fly drones

Govt's new draft rules make it easier to fly drones

Rediff.com15 Jul 2021

The number of forms to be filled to operate drones in the country have been reduced to six in draft 'Drone Rules, 2021' in comparison to 25 forms mentioned in the Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Rules, 2021, it said.

Punjab orders fresh curbs amid COVID-19 surge

Punjab orders fresh curbs amid COVID-19 surge

Rediff.com23 Feb 2021

The move comes amid growing concerns over an upswing in the number of coronavirus cases in the state.

The Battle To Save Malabar Hill

The Battle To Save Malabar Hill

Rediff.com3 Oct 2023

'If the authorities go about completing this project the way they have proposed, this is going to cause a HUGE environmental impact not only on Malabar Hill but also on the rest of the city.'

PepsiCo India partners N-Drip to help farmers

PepsiCo India partners N-Drip to help farmers

Rediff.com17 Mar 2022

Food and beverages major PepsiCo India on Thursday announced a partnership with N-Drip, a manufacturer of gravity-powered micro-irrigation system, to help farmers in India increase water efficiency. This is part of a global partnership between PepsiCo and N-Drip, aimed at increasing water efficiency across 10,000 hectares around the world by 2025, the company said in a statement. N-Drip's technology has already been introduced in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Rajasthan to improve water efficiency levels across thousands of hectares in the country by 2025, PepsiCo India added.

Sonia Gandhi joins 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Karnataka

Sonia Gandhi joins 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' in Karnataka

Rediff.com6 Oct 2022

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Pandavapura, participating in a public event of the party after a long gap.

MCD polls: BJP-AAP direct battle on cards as Congress nowhere in picture

MCD polls: BJP-AAP direct battle on cards as Congress nowhere in picture

Rediff.com17 Oct 2022

After the alteration of the boundaries, the BJP assessed the wards afresh to see what changes in strategy were needed

State of economy spooks BJP allies, but no one's listening

State of economy spooks BJP allies, but no one's listening

Rediff.com17 Oct 2017

Its governing allies are not happy on the economy and complain of ignored concerns but find themselves unable to be assertive.