News for 'Urban India'

Operation Sindoor casts shadow on car sales in May

Operation Sindoor casts shadow on car sales in May

Rediff.com9 Jun 2025

Fada estimates that global supply chain headwinds like scarce availability of rare earth elements for electric vehicle components and geopolitical tensions may affect urban consumer sentiment in June as well.

Urban India's banking problem

Urban India's banking problem

Rediff.com8 Dec 2005

'Migration Will Be Most Challenging Aspect Of Census'

'Migration Will Be Most Challenging Aspect Of Census'

Rediff.com18 Jul 2025

'What is going on is the under counting of the migration population in urban areas.' 'It has been going on in the last few censuses.'

Will India's FMCG sector see consumption revival in 2025?

Will India's FMCG sector see consumption revival in 2025?

Rediff.com23 Dec 2024

The FMCG industry hopes for a revival in consumption growth in 2025 with some 'green shoots' already visible, after having a challenging year amid escalating input costs and a double-digit rise in food inflation, which ultimately slowed down the pace of the urban market growth in the second half of 2024. Soaring prices of commodities such as palm oil, coffee, cocoa and wheat forced FMCG players to go for a hike of 3 to 5 per cent or resort to shrinkflation by reducing pack sizes and grammage to retain attractive price points, fearing a volume loss.

Vibe Coding's Challenge For India's IT Cos

Vibe Coding's Challenge For India's IT Cos

Rediff.com14 May 2025

'Could the impending new crisis, vibe coding, similarly create not a disaster like what befell Indian handlooms during the Industrial Revolution but another opportunity like what the Y2K crisis created?' asks Ajit Balakrishnan.

What The Next Census Will Discover

What The Next Census Will Discover

Rediff.com5 Jun 2025

The next Census' findings will help identify the extent of India's ageing population and vulnerability levels.

Protein vs Junk Food: What Is India Spending More On?

Protein vs Junk Food: What Is India Spending More On?

Rediff.com1 Mar 2025

Food budgets in urban areas spent less on protein as compared to beverages and processed foods, reveals the Household Consumption Expenditure survey data for 2023-24.

As Scorching Temp Grips India, NDMA Drafts Heatwave Plan

As Scorching Temp Grips India, NDMA Drafts Heatwave Plan

Rediff.com28 Mar 2025

With the summer approaching sooner than scheduled, Maharashtra, Telangana, Odisha, and West Bengal have already started experiencing heat waves with temperatures soaring above 40°C.

'After Marathi, Hindi Will Destroy Gujarati'

'After Marathi, Hindi Will Destroy Gujarati'

Rediff.com20 Jun 2025

'I don't know whether the top Gujarati leaders of Indian politics (Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah) in Delhi realise that the narrative of HindiHinduHindustan will eventually destroy their own language too.'

Trade war hit on India likely to be limited: RBI

Trade war hit on India likely to be limited: RBI

Rediff.com23 Apr 2025

The Indian economy could remain less affected by global trade wars than other countries because the two engines of domestic growth - consumption and investment - are likely to face a limited impact from such headwinds, according to an article on the 'State of the Economy' in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) bulletin, released on Tuesday.

SC asks Centre to vacate ex-CJI Chandrachud's residence

SC asks Centre to vacate ex-CJI Chandrachud's residence

Rediff.com6 Jul 2025

In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court administration has written to the Centre for vacating the official residence of the Chief Justice of India at Krishna Menon Marg in New Delhi, noting that the current occupant ex-CJI D Y Chandrachud has stayed beyond the permissible period.

Why Tejashwi Threatened To Boycott Bihar Polls

Why Tejashwi Threatened To Boycott Bihar Polls

Rediff.com28 Jul 2025

'Talking about boycotting polls is simply a move to galvanise party leaders, workers, and supporters for the big political fight.'

Rare earth curbs to hit EV, RE, defence sectors

Rare earth curbs to hit EV, RE, defence sectors

Rediff.com28 Jun 2025

India's macroeconomic health is in a "relative goldilocks situation", and although the risk of higher landed oil prices, due to insurance cost surges and closure of choke points due to the brief Israel-Iran war, has receded, it is "too soon to sound the 'all clear' for the rest of the year", the Finance Ministry said on Friday.

Automatic cars key to Skoda's plan to double sales

Automatic cars key to Skoda's plan to double sales

Rediff.com30 Jun 2025

Skoda India sees growth in automatics and network expansion as key drivers to reach 3 per cent market share, with EV plans and a new SUV also in the works.

Public life likely to be hit as over 25 crore workers call 'Bharat Bandh' on Wednesday

Public life likely to be hit as over 25 crore workers call 'Bharat Bandh' on Wednesday

Rediff.com8 Jul 2025

More than 25 crore workers engaged in sectors ranging from banking, insurance, postal to coal mining, highway and construction are expected to go on a nationwide general strike on Wednesday, potentially disrupting services across the country. A forum of 10 central trade unions and their associates has called for a general strike or 'Bharat Bandh' to "oppose the anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the government".

Passenger vehicle retail sales dip 3% in May as demand softens: FADA

Passenger vehicle retail sales dip 3% in May as demand softens: FADA

Rediff.com6 Jun 2025

Passenger vehicle retail sales witnessed 3 per cent on-year decline in May with customers delaying purchases in several states due to India-Pakistan conflict and further softening of demand for entry-level models, dealers' body FADA said on Friday. The passenger vehicle registrations last month stood at 302,214 units, as compared to 311,908 units in May 2024.

FMCG volume growth slows to 5.1% in Q4

FMCG volume growth slows to 5.1% in Q4

Rediff.com8 May 2025

The volume growth of India's FMCG industry has slowed down in the March quarter to 5.1 per cent, driven by increased consumer purchases of small-value packs, according to the latest report from data analytics firm NielsenIQ. Volume growth is slowing across categories, and non-food segments are still outpacing food in the FMCG sector.

'I'm The Only Acknowledged Dalit In All Of Hindi Cinema History'

'I'm The Only Acknowledged Dalit In All Of Hindi Cinema History'

Rediff.com11 Jun 2025

'If you look around the world at people of colour, religion, caste, sexuality or any of the marginalised communities, we are always talking in numbers.' 'We are always assigning them a statistic.' 'That is an easy way to assuage your urban guilt. Because you hide your apathy with hollow sympathy.' 'We are, in a way, making them invisible.'

Share of women in urban salaried jobs at 6-year low in Q4FY24: PLFS

Share of women in urban salaried jobs at 6-year low in Q4FY24: PLFS

Rediff.com20 May 2024

The share of women employed in regular salaried jobs in urban India hit a fresh low in the January-March quarter (Q4) of 2023-24 (FY24). In the same period, the share of women engaged in self-employment went up. An analysis of the latest quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data showed the share of women in regular wage work among all employed women stood at 52.3 per cent in Q4FY24, down from 53 per cent in the previous quarter.

Chandrachud reveals why he overstayed in CJI's residence

Chandrachud reveals why he overstayed in CJI's residence

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

Former Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud addresses the controversy surrounding his continued stay at his official residence after retirement, citing his daughters' medical needs and ongoing efforts to move to suitable accommodation.

'Marathis Are Anxious About Survival'

'Marathis Are Anxious About Survival'

Rediff.com21 Jul 2025

'Maharashtrians are facing a dual battle -- numerical battle with North Indians and financial battle with Gujaratis and Marwaris.' 'This has created anxiety about survival and ownership over Mumbai and Maharashtra.'

Why BJP Wants JMM To Contest Bihar Polls

Why BJP Wants JMM To Contest Bihar Polls

Rediff.com28 Jul 2025

'It is good for us if the JMM contests. That will divide the Opposition and give us the upper hand.'

Only 18 Muslim women made it to Lok Sabha since Independence

Only 18 Muslim women made it to Lok Sabha since Independence

Rediff.com20 Jul 2025

From royalty to a tea vendor-turned-politician's wife and from a first lady to a Bengali actress, the 18 Muslim women who treaded the hallowed corridors of power in the Lok Sabha are an eclectic mix, with each of them having an interesting backstory, but one common thread -- their path to power was always strewn with struggle and hurdles.

Extreme poverty nearly alleviated in India: SBI research

Extreme poverty nearly alleviated in India: SBI research

Rediff.com3 Jan 2025

As the poverty rates in the country declined below 5 percent in 2024, a research study by State Bank of India also highlighted that the extreme poverty in the country has been reduced to minimal.

When A Vice President Resigned For The First Time

When A Vice President Resigned For The First Time

Rediff.com22 Jul 2025

Vice President V V Giri's resignation in 1969 triggered political upheavals that saw the ruling party defy its own presidential nominee, the expulsion of a sitting prime minister by her party president, and a historic split in the Indian National Congress, recounts Utkarsh Mishra.

Not Just A Superwoman

Not Just A Superwoman

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

Some of the suggested strategies include making thoughtful trade-offs between career choices and family responsibilities to avoid the guilt of not spending adequate time with elders and children at home; resisting the pressure to be a 'superwoman' by trying to manage everything alone; demanding, negotiating, and selecting jobs with flexible working hours; exploring work-from-home options; choosing an appropriate time for a career break; upskilling to re-enter the workforce after a break; and communicating openly with family members -- including spouse and in-laws -- about the support needed to grow professionally and the challenges faced at work, highlights N Ravichandran.

GoI greenlights bike taxis, over to states

GoI greenlights bike taxis, over to states

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

While mobility aggregators such as Rapido and Uber have welcomed the decision, gig workers associations and unions remain concerned.

Should You Invest In Corporate Bonds?

Should You Invest In Corporate Bonds?

Rediff.com10 Jul 2025

Only a limited set of investors should invest directly in corporate bonds.

Truck rentals, EV and tractor sales rise in June

Truck rentals, EV and tractor sales rise in June

Rediff.com5 Jul 2025

Truck rentals saw a positive momentum across most key trunk routes due to an increased pre-kharif agricultural activity and a resilient manufacturing sector. The Kolkata-Guwahati-Kolkata corridor witnessed a month-on-month (M-o-M) rise of 2.4 per cent, while the Mumbai-Chennai-Mumbai route grew by 1.9 per cent and the Delhi-Hyderabad-Delhi route saw a 1.6 per cent increase in truck rentals, said June edition of the Shriram Mobility Bulletin.

Lasik Surgery Market Eyes 2X Growth In 5 Years

Lasik Surgery Market Eyes 2X Growth In 5 Years

Rediff.com20 May 2025

India currently performs around 6,00,000 to 7,00,000 laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (Lasik) and refractive procedures a year, and the uptake is accelerating.

What Bessemer plans to do with its $350 million India-only fund

What Bessemer plans to do with its $350 million India-only fund

Rediff.com19 Mar 2025

Bessemer Venture Partners has closed $350 million in capital for its second dedicated India fund to back founders in the region, who build enduring companies.

Congress Infighting Blocks Shivakumar's Rise

Congress Infighting Blocks Shivakumar's Rise

Rediff.com16 Jul 2025

Going by political tradition, another formation will likely come to power in Karnataka in the next assembly election, due 2028. And if that happens, Mr Shivakumar will have to sit it out till 2033, points out Aditi Phadnis.

India Inc to clock 7-8% revenue growth in Q4

India Inc to clock 7-8% revenue growth in Q4

Rediff.com24 Feb 2025

Domestic rating agency ICRA on Monday said Indian companies are likely to clock 7-8 per cent revenue growth during the March quarter of the current fiscal year, led by revival in rural demand and uptick in government spending. ICRA expects the private capital expenditure (capex) cycle to remain measured in view of the uncertainties around geopolitical developments and relatively subdued outlook on merchandise exports from India.

'The RBI has started to support growth'

'The RBI has started to support growth'

Rediff.com2 Jul 2025

'Deposit and lending rates have started to fall considerably. It is likely to spur investment and consumption of durables.'

Beyond 9 to 5: The Bike Taxi Hustle

Beyond 9 to 5: The Bike Taxi Hustle

Rediff.com9 Jul 2025

Rising inflation and stagnant wages are forcing a number of salaried professionals to venture into the bike taxi service as part-time riders.

Centre Begins Historic Relocation of 30,000 Employees

Centre Begins Historic Relocation of 30,000 Employees

Rediff.com26 Jun 2025

The orders issued this month have selected ministries ranging from home affairs under Amit Shah to rural development, headed by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to move to Building 3 -- currently named CCS-03 -- on Kartavya Path. The scale of the shift will be even larger than when most of Lutyens' Delhi's present crop of government buildings came up in the early 1930s.

'I Adopted A Cat To Understand Motherhood'

'I Adopted A Cat To Understand Motherhood'

Rediff.com16 Jun 2025

'I am not a mother and never had an abortion either, so I had to understand motherhood and child loss from anecdotal experiences of others.'

SBI@70: Who Says The Elephant Can't Dance?

SBI@70: Who Says The Elephant Can't Dance?

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

While a giant, it's a nimble-footed one, and is growing at a speed that even some of its private sector peers find enviable.
Between FY18 and FY24, it doubled its balance sheet. Despite being a late entrant in some segments, it has been able to grab market share, observes Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

Paint major Berger's palette finds contrast in a washed-out quarter

Paint major Berger's palette finds contrast in a washed-out quarter

Rediff.com26 May 2025

Listed paint majors posted another lacklustre showing in the January-March quarter (Q4) of 2024-25 (FY25), with average revenue growth under 3 per cent. Sales were weighed down by Asian Paints - the market leader and the only major to report a year-on-year (Y-o-Y) decline.

Why I Will Be Going Back To Vietnam

Why I Will Be Going Back To Vietnam

Rediff.com4 Aug 2025

Vietnam was wonderful and the people warm and hospitable, Radhika Mittal discovered over a 11-day stay.