News for 'The Illustrated Weekly of India'

Budget 2023-24: Stay on fiscal glide path, economists advise FM Sitharaman

Budget 2023-24: Stay on fiscal glide path, economists advise FM Sitharaman

Rediff.com29 Nov 2022

The Union government could target a fiscal deficit of 5.8-6 per cent of nominal GDP for 2023-24, and it should continue its capital expenditure push and look to simplify the personal income tax regime, economists recommended Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her team during their pre-Budget interaction on Monday. Starting last week, Sitharaman had eight pre-Budget consultations this time. More than 110 invitees representing seven stakeholder groups participated in these meetings, the finance ministry said in a statement. The stakeholder groups included representatives and experts from agriculture and agro-processing industry; industry, infrastructure & climate change; financial sector and capital markets; services and trade; social sector; trade unions and labour organisations; and economists.

Covid redux: India Inc switches back to SOS mode from wait-and-watch

Covid redux: India Inc switches back to SOS mode from wait-and-watch

Rediff.com14 Jan 2022

With the dizzying rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the country, India Inc has transitioned from a wait-and-watch policy to full-on emergency mode, bringing back remote and flexi work, stringent safety protocols, and allowing only essential travel. Companies - especially in metros like Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata - that had adopted a hybrid work model during the last few months when the caseload remained low, are either switching back entirely to work-from-home (WFH), or calling skeletal staff to office on select days. Take the case of cigarettes-to-hotels major, ITC, which had been on a hybrid work model over the last few months.

India-focused funds may soon get fast approval from Mauritius

India-focused funds may soon get fast approval from Mauritius

Rediff.com7 Oct 2020

Market observers also said the approvals depended a lot on the funds themselves, and the extent to which they followed the new norms introduced last year.

Dating In Your 40s: 10 Mistakes To Avoid

Dating In Your 40s: 10 Mistakes To Avoid

Rediff.com26 Jun 2023

The dating world can be a mess of expectations and anxieties, but don't let your emotional baggage spill all over your chance at real love, suggests Sybil Shiddell, country manager India, Gleeden, a discreet extra marital dating Web site.

Rupee to remain under pressure, may test new levels

Rupee to remain under pressure, may test new levels

Rediff.com31 Aug 2022

Indian rupee, which earlier this week touched an all-time low, is likely to remain under pressure and may test new levels as a fallout of the US Federal Reserve indicating more interest rate hikes, experts said. The aggressive rate hikes will dampen demand and increase the possibility of a recession in the US. This could accelerate the pace of capital outflows, weaken the rupee and raise the threat of imported inflation.

Rupee relatively better placed than other currencies: FM

Rupee relatively better placed than other currencies: FM

Rediff.com30 Jun 2022

Amid the rupee declining against the US dollar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said the Indian currency is relatively better placed than other global currencies against the greenback. Emerging market currencies have been falling against the dollar amid geopolitical tensions in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war, concerns over growth, high global crude prices, sustained inflation and central banks worldwide adopting hawkish monetary policy approach. "We are relatively better placed. We are not a closed economy. We are part of the globalised world.

Capex on new projects declines further in Q2

Capex on new projects declines further in Q2

Rediff.com11 Oct 2022

Expenditure on new projects slowed down for the second quarter in a row amid an uncertain global environment and higher borrowing costs. There were new projects worth a cumulative Rs 3.26 trillion in the July-September period, according to data provided by project tracker Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). This figure is much less than Rs 4.39 trillion in the June quarter (Q1FY23) and Rs 8.46 trillion in the March quarter (Q4FY22).

She was one of a kind

She was one of a kind

Rediff.com22 Aug 2007

A dear friend pays tribute to celebrated Urdu writer Qurratulain Hyder who passed into the ages on Tuesday

How India's submarines can stay longer under water

How India's submarines can stay longer under water

Rediff.com11 Mar 2021

DRDO's Air Independent Propulsion system will allow Indian Navy submarines to operate for up to two weeks without having to surface to recharge its batteries.

Are Indian Markets Decoupled From Developed Markets?

Are Indian Markets Decoupled From Developed Markets?

Rediff.com17 Oct 2022

Just because India has outperformed the US markets in a short recent period, it does not mean that this is based on fundamental reasons that are here to stay, points out Debashis Basu.

Indian Bank bars pregnant women as 'temporarily unfit' for hiring

Indian Bank bars pregnant women as 'temporarily unfit' for hiring

Rediff.com20 Jun 2022

The Delhi Commission for Women has issued a notice to Indian Bank seeking withdrawal of its new recruitment guidelines which prevents a woman, who is three or more months pregnant, from joining service.

Mcap of eight of top-10 most valued cos erodes by over Rs 2.61 lakh cr

Mcap of eight of top-10 most valued cos erodes by over Rs 2.61 lakh cr

Rediff.com19 Dec 2021

Eight of the top-10 most valued companies suffered a combined erosion of Rs 2,61,812.14 crore in market valuation last week, with Reliance Industries emerging as the biggest laggard. In the top-10 list, Infosys and Wipro were the only gainers. During the last week, the BSE benchmark slumped 1,774.93 points or 3.01 per cent.

Equity m-cap lowest in 7 months in Feb

Equity m-cap lowest in 7 months in Feb

Rediff.com27 Feb 2022

Equity market capitalisation dropped to a seven-month low in February, with the top 10 companies losing a whopping Rs 3,33,307.62 crore in market valuation last week. The total equity market capitalisation (m-cap) in February 2022 stood at Rs 2,49,97,053.39 crore. The previous low was in July 2021, when the m-cap of BSE-listed companies was at Rs 2,35,49,748.9 crore. In January, the m-cap stood at Rs 2,64,41,207.18 crore.

Govt blocks 16 YouTube channels, including 6 from Pak, for spreading lies

Govt blocks 16 YouTube channels, including 6 from Pak, for spreading lies

Rediff.com25 Apr 2022

The Centre on Monday blocked 16 YouTube channels, including six operating from Pakistan, and a Facebook account for spreading disinformation related to India's national security, foreign relations and public order, according to an official statement.

Nirav Modi 'only thinks of cutting or hanging if extradited'

Nirav Modi 'only thinks of cutting or hanging if extradited'

Rediff.com11 Oct 2022

The high court in London on Tuesday began hearing evidence from two leading experts in the field of psychiatry to determine the level of suicide risk faced by Nirav Modi if he is extradited to India to face charges of fraud and money laundering, amounting to an estimated $2 billion in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan scam case. Lord Justice Jeremy Stuart-Smith and Justice Robert Jay heard from Andrew Forrester, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at Cardiff University, and Seena Fazel, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry at Oxford University, in the final stages of the extradition appeal being pursued by the 51-year-old diamond merchant. The two psychiatrists weighed up Nirav's level of depression, which could pose a "substantial" or "elevated" risk of suicide.

11 Tips To Overcome A Sexless Marriage

11 Tips To Overcome A Sexless Marriage

Rediff.com20 Mar 2023

The key is to find ways to manage the stress of being in a sexless marriage, so that you can focus on building your relationship back up and moving forward, advises Sybil Shiddell, country manager-India for Gleeden, a discreet extra marital dating Web site.

Your visa got delayed? Here's why

Your visa got delayed? Here's why

Rediff.com28 Jul 2022

It was supposed to be a happy journey to London, one that the Imam family had been planning for the past two months. Everything was set - except the visa, which did not arrive in time for one of its members. "Visa was the villain...As a consequence, half of the family of four will be in London today and the other half at home in India and the US, respectively," Sanjar Imam, director of travel firm Panache World, wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Planning a vacation this Diwali? Good news awaits you

Planning a vacation this Diwali? Good news awaits you

Rediff.com8 Oct 2022

After years of being sequestered by the pandemic, some intrepid travellers are planning to settle their score with the novel coronavirus. With fewer or no travel curbs, they are eager to get back on the road, again. Hotels and tour operators, too, are eager to shed excess Covid baggage. And this year's Diwali promises to add that extra layer sparkle with the introduction of new flights.

E-commerce companies offer value products to woo Bharat as demand rises

E-commerce companies offer value products to woo Bharat as demand rises

Rediff.com27 Feb 2023

The writing has been on the wall for some time and it showed up prominently during the festival-season sales last year, when Meesho toppled Amazon to become the second-largest player in order share. During the sales season, 60 per cent of the orders Meesho received were from tier-4 cities and beyond. According to a report by consulting firm Redseer, festival-season sales last year were driven primarily by tier-2 and tier-3 cities, with 64 per cent of the shoppers coming from those.

FinMin to kick-start Budget exercise from October 10

FinMin to kick-start Budget exercise from October 10

Rediff.com8 Sep 2022

The finance ministry will kick-start the exercise to prepare the annual Budget for 2023-24 from October 10, in the backdrop of revival of the Indian economy and fears of recession in developed countries. The budget for the next year will have to address critical issues of high inflation, job creation, boosting demand, and putting the economy on a sustained 8 per cent-plus growth path. On Wednesday, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said inflation is no longer "red-lettered" and the priority for the government now is job creation and boosting growth.

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.

Modi Failed India on the Economy

Modi Failed India on the Economy

Rediff.com10 Jul 2021

The government did not tell us why our economy had imploded. The prime minister simply stopped speaking on the subject, asserts Aakar Patel.

India's forex kitty continues to swell, crosses $406.7 bn

India's forex kitty continues to swell, crosses $406.7 bn

Rediff.com30 Mar 2019

The reserves had touched a life-time high of $426.028 billion in the week to April 13, 2018.

NDTV founders Prannoy and Radhika Roy to sell company stake to Adani

NDTV founders Prannoy and Radhika Roy to sell company stake to Adani

Rediff.com23 Dec 2022

NDTV founders Prannoy Roy and his wife Radhika Roy on Friday said they will sell all but 5 per cent of their remaining shareholding in the news broadcaster to Adani Group for up to Rs 647.6 crore. Roys, who founded New Delhi Television Ltd (NDTV) as India's first and largest private producer of news current affairs and entertainment television, lost their status of being the company's largest shareholder in recent weeks. This follows Adani Group becoming the majority shareholding of NDTV after first buying out a company backed by the founders and then acquiring more shares from the open market.

Explained in Charts: India's deepening economic slowdown

Explained in Charts: India's deepening economic slowdown

Rediff.com19 Nov 2019

What could be the reason for the successive downward revisions across the board? Some key indicators make it evident, reports Abhishek Waghmare.

When Lataji Stunned Noorjehan

When Lataji Stunned Noorjehan

Rediff.com8 Feb 2022

Was this indeed the Lata who had started out with her, as a child star, in Badi Maa (1945)? Raju Bharatan recalls yet another memorable incident from Lata Mangeshkar's incredible life.

Now you will get your salary, pension even on bank holidays

Now you will get your salary, pension even on bank holidays

Rediff.com4 Jun 2021

In order to further enhance customer convenience, and to leverage the 24x7 availability of real-time gross settlement (RTGS), NACH which is currently available on bank working days, is proposed to be made available on all days of the week effective from August 1, 2021, RBI's Shaktikanta Das said.

16 'suspected entities' searched in Axis MF front-running case

16 'suspected entities' searched in Axis MF front-running case

Rediff.com28 May 2022

According to sources, the two fund managers allegedly made illicit gains worth Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore through front-running.

Banking Stocks: Time To Tread Cautiously

Banking Stocks: Time To Tread Cautiously

Rediff.com7 Nov 2022

The sector seems set for a rally that may be somewhat temporary.

2nd COVID wave poses downside risks to India's economic growth: S&P

2nd COVID wave poses downside risks to India's economic growth: S&P

Rediff.com28 Apr 2021

S&P Global Ratings on Wednesday said the second wave of COVID infections poses downside risks to India's GDP and heightens the possibility of business disruptions. The second wave brings in uncertainty and a drawn-out COVID outbreak will impede India's recovery, it said.

Will Financial Stress Break The Global Economy?

Will Financial Stress Break The Global Economy?

Rediff.com4 Apr 2023

What's different this time is that global financial stress -- which has its genesis in four policy choices made in recent years -- is juxtaposed with a more resilient real economy, observes Sajjid Z Chinoy, chief India economist at J P Morgan.

'Market has so far surprised everyone'

'Market has so far surprised everyone'

Rediff.com16 Sep 2022

'This resilience should be viewed as reflecting the strength of the structural story.'

Have the Indian stock markets rallied too fast, too soon?

Have the Indian stock markets rallied too fast, too soon?

Rediff.com30 Sep 2022

Indian frontline benchmarks - the S&P BSE Sensex and the Nifty50 - have rallied around 12 per cent each since June-end and outperformed their global peers by a wide margin. On Thursday, the US Fed hiked interest rates by another 75 basis points (bps) - the third such hike this year - and surprised the markets by projecting further sizable hikes in the coming months. With the latest hike, the Fed fund rate (FFR) now stands in the range of 3 - 3.25 per cent and is highest since January 2008.

FPIs withdraw Rs 6,400 cr from equity markets

FPIs withdraw Rs 6,400 cr from equity markets

Rediff.com8 May 2022

Foreign investors have pulled over Rs 6,400 crore from the Indian equity market in the first four trading sessions of the ongoing month when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and US Federal Reserve raised interest rates. Given the headwinds in terms of elevated crude prices, inflation, tight monetary policy among others, FPIs' flows in India are expected to remain volatile in the near term, Shrikant Chouhan, Head - Equity Research (Retail), Kotak Securities, said. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) remained net sellers for seven months to April 2022, withdrawing a massive amount of over Rs 1.65 lakh crore from equities. This was largely on the back of anticipation of a rate hike by the US Federal Reserve and due to the deteriorating geopolitical environment following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

COVID-19: India's unemployment rate soars to 27.11%

COVID-19: India's unemployment rate soars to 27.11%

Rediff.com5 May 2020

The rate of unemployment was the highest in the urban areas, which constitute the most number of red zones due to the COVID-19 cases, at 29.22 per cent, as against 26.69 per cent for the rural areas.

'It's advantage bulls for the near-term'

'It's advantage bulls for the near-term'

Rediff.com29 Nov 2022

'New record for the Nifty50 is only a question of when.'

Kalam calls on Khushwant Singh

Kalam calls on Khushwant Singh

Rediff.com10 Feb 2007

The meeting lasted for half an hour with Khushwant taking his legendary chair by the fireplace and the President, the chair meant for the guests.

Funding winter hits start-up advertising spend across properties

Funding winter hits start-up advertising spend across properties

Rediff.com6 Aug 2022

A long and bitter funding winter in the start-up world is beginning to take its toll on start-up advertising across properties. Earlier this week, Mastercard replaced Paytm as the title sponsor for all international and domestic cricket matches organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). But this is just one part of the story. The other side is that organisers of high-impact shows and events on Hindi general entertainment channels, too, are feeling the winter chill.

Govt on Musk's Twitter takeover: How does it matter who owns what?

Govt on Musk's Twitter takeover: How does it matter who owns what?

Rediff.com28 Oct 2022

India's expectation of Twitter complying with the country's rules for social media platforms will not change with its takeover by Elon Musk, according to a senior minister.

Govt slashes windfall tax on fuel export, domestic crude oil

Govt slashes windfall tax on fuel export, domestic crude oil

Rediff.com20 Jul 2022

The government on Wednesday scrapped a week-old tax on the export of petrol and cut windfall taxes on overseas shipment of diesel and ATF as well as the one imposed on domestically produced crude oil after global oil prices fell. While the Rs 6 a litre export duty on petrol was scrapped, the tax on the export of diesel and jet fuel (ATF) was cut by Rs 2 per litre each to Rs 11 and Rs 4 respectively, government notifications showed. The tax on domestically produced crude was also cut to Rs 17,000 per tonne from Rs 23,250, a move that will benefit producers like ONGC and Vedanta Ltd.