News for 'Urban India'

BJP sweeps Haryana civic polls, big setback for Cong

BJP sweeps Haryana civic polls, big setback for Cong

Rediff.com12 Mar 2025

The BJP registered emphatic victories in seven municipal corporations in Haryana, while its nominees were leading in two other civic bodies in the recently held elections. The Congress, which was hoping to improve its electoral fortunes after a defeat in the 2024 Assembly polls, suffered another setback. The BJP candidates won with large margins in Faridabad, Gurugram, Hisar, Karnal, Rohtak, Sonipat, and Ambala. The BJP was also leading in Yamunanagar and Panipat. In Manesar, an Independent candidate, Inderjeet Yadav, won the mayoral election. The results are seen as a major setback for the Congress, which has been facing internal turmoil and factionalism.

Q3 results preview: FMCG stocks vs capital goods sector

Q3 results preview: FMCG stocks vs capital goods sector

Rediff.com13 Jan 2025

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are expected to witness pressure on volumes in the October-December quarter. However, price hikes will help push up revenues, said brokerages.For India's largest engineering firm, Larsen and Toubro (L&T), the analysts expect a 20 per cent growth in consolidated revenue, and an 8.1 per cent core business Ebitda margin, up 40 bps from a year ago.

BJP Concedes AIADMK Demands In Eagerness For Alliance

BJP Concedes AIADMK Demands In Eagerness For Alliance

Rediff.com26 Mar 2025

EPS has had its way on most things, alliance-wise. A week earlier, he reiterated that he would not re-admit OPS and Sasikala Natarajan back in the party. It was a message not just to detractors in the AIADMK. It was even more so for the BJP leadership in Delhi. Even more important for the AIADMK was their demand for accepting EPS as the chief ministerial candidate of any alliance that the party would form, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.

RBI sees 'sequential pickup in economic activity'

RBI sees 'sequential pickup in economic activity'

Rediff.com19 Feb 2025

High frequency indicators, like vehicles sales, air traffic, steel consumption and GST E-way bills, point towards a sequential pickup in momentum of economic activity during the second half of the fiscal 2024-25 and sustain moving forward, RBI Bulletin said on Wednesday. However, a strong dollar, driven by US economic resilience and trade policy pivots, could exacerbate capital outflows from emerging economies, push risk premiums higher, and intensify external vulnerabilities, said an article on 'State of the Economy' published in RBI's February bulletin.

India's GDP growth likely to slip to 6.5% in Q2: Icra

India's GDP growth likely to slip to 6.5% in Q2: Icra

Rediff.com20 Nov 2024

Domestic rating agency Icra on Wednesday said India's real GDP growth for the September quarter is likely to decline to 6.5 per cent due to heavy rains and weaker corporate performance. The agency, however, maintained its FY25 growth estimate at 7 per cent on expectations of a pick up in economic activity in the second half of the fiscal.

Space Industry Thrilled With FM Plans

Space Industry Thrilled With FM Plans

Rediff.com1 Feb 2025

'The scrapping of import duty would help Indian companies compete in international markets, thus paving the way for India becoming a space manufacturing hub for the world.'

'High Probability Of Lowering Repo Rate'

'High Probability Of Lowering Repo Rate'

Rediff.com5 Feb 2025

'As the Budget has taken some measures to spur growth, similar action from the MPC may be expected.'

Why clean air remains a pipe dream across India

Why clean air remains a pipe dream across India

Rediff.com12 Dec 2024

Data from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change reveals that 30 cities recorded an increase in PM10 levels compared to 2017-18 (FY18), indicating deteriorating air quality.

Airtel to launch 5G within a month, cover all urban area by 2023

Airtel to launch 5G within a month, cover all urban area by 2023

Rediff.com7 Sep 2022

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel expects to launch 5G services within a month and cover key metros by December, a top official of the company said on Wednesday. The telco plans to cover all urban areas of the country by the end of 2023, according to the company's CEO. Bharti Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal in a communication to the customers said Airtel 5G will deliver dramatically higher speeds of 20-30 times compared to a 4G network.

Will Sky Force Be R-Day Weekend Bonanza?

Will Sky Force Be R-Day Weekend Bonanza?

Rediff.com25 Jan 2025

'Republic Day week has consistently been a lucrative period for the film industry.'

Costly vegetables push retail inflation to 4-month high

Costly vegetables push retail inflation to 4-month high

Rediff.com12 Jul 2024

Retail inflation increased to four-month high of 5.08 per cent in June as food items, including vegetables became dearer, according to government data released on Friday. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based retail inflation was on a decline since January, before rising again in June. The CPI-based retail inflation was 4.8 per cent in May 2024 and 4.87 per cent in June 2023.

Is India moving toward urban disaster?

Is India moving toward urban disaster?

Rediff.com5 Apr 2010

With 130-140 million Indians likely to move to cities in the next decade and an equal number in the one after that, the development of urban India represents the biggest challenge you can think of -- in the next two decades, India will have to create as many new cities as it created in the last several hundred years.

Budget Prepares For Rise In Cancer Cases

Budget Prepares For Rise In Cancer Cases

Rediff.com3 Feb 2025

Do we have enough trained oncologists and medical professionals in India to man these over 4,500 beds in the public sector?

Passenger vehicle sales crash 10% in Feb, 2Ws down 6%

Passenger vehicle sales crash 10% in Feb, 2Ws down 6%

Rediff.com21 Mar 2025

The meltdown in Dalal Street that wiped out investor wealth to the tune of 44 trillion in 2025 also seems to be having a ripple effect on the country's vibrant automobile retail sales.

Delhi's Fuel Ban On 15-year-old Vehicles Finds No Backers

Delhi's Fuel Ban On 15-year-old Vehicles Finds No Backers

Rediff.com13 Mar 2025

The Delhi government has announced that vehicles older than 15 years will be denied fuel at petrol pumps starting April 1.

I could've built sheesh mahal: PM slams AAP as 'aapda'

I could've built sheesh mahal: PM slams AAP as 'aapda'

Rediff.com3 Jan 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party as an 'aapda' (disaster) for Delhi, saying this 'aapda' had taken the national capital in its grip in the past 10 years.

How to get more bang for the buck out of field agents

How to get more bang for the buck out of field agents

Rediff.com23 Jan 2025

Will allowing business correspondents to hawk insurance products help in reviving 5-lakh strong field agents as a viable channel?

'Imposing Hindi Will Affect BJP's Prospects In Tamil Nadu'

'Imposing Hindi Will Affect BJP's Prospects In Tamil Nadu'

Rediff.com5 Mar 2025

'The vast majority of BJP supporters in Tamil Nadu can't speak any language other than Tamil.' 'When rural Tamil Nadu can't speak any other language than Tamil, how are they going to convince them that they have to learn Hindi?'

Are Baloch rebels out of Pakistan's control now?

Are Baloch rebels out of Pakistan's control now?

Rediff.com14 Mar 2025

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has undergone a significant transformation, evolving from hit-and-run attacks to carrying out sophisticated operations with tactical precision. The group's tactics and targets have become increasingly audacious, targeting security forces, Chinese nationals, and innocent civilians. Experts attribute the BLA's evolution to various factors, including the leadership of Bashir Zeb, the group's growing intelligence network, and its exploitation of the grievances of the Baloch people. The BLA's actions are a cause for concern, as the group's sophisticated attacks pose a major challenge to security forces.

Budget: Auto cos eye 10m beneficiaries of no-tax rule

Budget: Auto cos eye 10m beneficiaries of no-tax rule

Rediff.com4 Feb 2025

According to experts, even if an additional 5 per cent of people opt to buy new vehicles, it may bring a huge boost to the sector.

Urban voter DOES matter, netaji

Urban voter DOES matter, netaji

Rediff.com15 Oct 2013

The conventional wisdom among political parties was while urban India makes noise, it is rural India that can make or break their chances to capture power. Not any more. Mayank Mishra reports

'RBI has a tough balancing act to do'

'RBI has a tough balancing act to do'

Rediff.com1 Jan 2025

'Inflation is not good for industry. Nor for the economy as a whole.'

The Regret About This Budget Is...

The Regret About This Budget Is...

Rediff.com3 Feb 2025

'... that it once again shies away from renewing its commitment to strategic divestment,' points out A K Bhattacharya.

'Investments Of Over Rs 4 Trillion To Create 100,000 Jobs'

'Investments Of Over Rs 4 Trillion To Create 100,000 Jobs'

Rediff.com24 Feb 2025

'The size of the investments is important, but equally crucial is the number of jobs that these proposals create.'

Coming Soon! New Internship Scheme

Coming Soon! New Internship Scheme

Rediff.com12 Feb 2025

'We are getting to understand the mind of this generation.' 'Minor tweaks are being made to ease the process as we go along.'

Strong India biz growth to drive gains for Godrej Consumer

Strong India biz growth to drive gains for Godrej Consumer

Rediff.com2 Nov 2024

Godrej Consumer Products Ltd (GCPL) reported a 2 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) increase in consolidated revenue to Rs 3,670 crore. Organic revenue growth in constant currency was up 14 per cent Y-o-Y. Consolidated operating profit was up 5 per cent to Rs 760 crore, profit before tax grew 10 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 710 crore, and adjusted net profit grew 12 per cent Y-o-Y to Rs 490 crore.

Budget: 25% I-T Slab, Higher Rebate Likely

Budget: 25% I-T Slab, Higher Rebate Likely

Rediff.com29 Jan 2025

'If our Budget allows, we may implement both measures -- making income up to Rs 10 lakh tax-free and introducing a 25 per cent slab for income between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh.'

Market outlook 2025: Brokerages on opportunities, risks, investible themes

Market outlook 2025: Brokerages on opportunities, risks, investible themes

Rediff.com17 Dec 2024

From the outcome of the general elections and then Union Budget to tepid corporate earnings in the September 2024 quarter (Q2-FY25), sticky inflation and Reserve Bank of India's stance on interest rates, extreme weather conditions, Indian stock markets have braved it all in calendar year 2024.

Why I Mourn Sitaram Yechury

Why I Mourn Sitaram Yechury

Rediff.com21 Sep 2024

There are few leaders in the Opposition line up who can claim a path to party leadership like Sitaram Yechury and certainly, very few who blended that ascent through student politics with awareness about non-elite real India, urban India and liberal politics, as he did, notes Shyam G Menon.

While Dabur sees muted revenue growth in Q3, Marico is upbeat

While Dabur sees muted revenue growth in Q3, Marico is upbeat

Rediff.com4 Jan 2025

Homegrown fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) major Dabur India is set to record low single-digit growth in consolidated revenue in the December quarter, it said in an update on Friday. The maker of Hajmola candy and Real fruit juice said rural consumption continued to be resilient and grow faster than urban in the third quarter.

Budget 2025: What realtors want from Nirmala Sitharaman

Budget 2025: What realtors want from Nirmala Sitharaman

Rediff.com13 Jan 2025

As the Union Budget 2025-2026 (FY26) inches closer, the Indian real estate industry is seeking stamp duty cuts, revised home loan limits and updated affordable housing norms through Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY), single-window clearance and eco-friendly policies, among others. Industry leaders and consultancy firms, including Anarock, Raheja, Gaurs, Kanodia Group, Reach, Urban Space, Justo and Eros Group, have shared their expectations.

India needs to avoid the middle-income trap: NITI document

India needs to avoid the middle-income trap: NITI document

Rediff.com27 Jul 2024

Upgrading capabilities in manufacturing and logistics and bridging the gap between rural and urban incomes are some of the structural challenges that India needs to address, according to a document prepared by NITI Aayog. In the document titled 'Vision for Viksit Bharat @ 2047:An Approach Paper, the Aayog said India needs to avoid the middle-income trap and carefully work towards breaking out of it.

A peek into Auto Expo 2025

A peek into Auto Expo 2025

Rediff.com7 Jan 2025

More than 40 new product launches are expected at the upcoming Auto Expo which will be held under the umbrella of Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 from January 17-22, a government official said on Tuesday. With visas continuing to be an issue, large scale participation of Chinese companies are unlikely although some of them are participating at the expo, Joint Secretary at Ministry of Commerce and Industry Vimal Anand said at the sidelines of curtain raiser of 'Bharat Battery Show' which will also be a part of the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025.

The Coming Dementia Epidemic

The Coming Dementia Epidemic

Rediff.com20 Dec 2024

Around 7.4 per cent of Indians aged 60 and above are affected by dementia. This number is expected to rise from the current 8.8 million to 17 million by 2036, marking a 97 per cent increase.

Focus On 26 EV Launches, Charging Infra At Auto Expo

Focus On 26 EV Launches, Charging Infra At Auto Expo

Rediff.com4 Feb 2025

With nearly 100 launches and unveils, the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, held in Delhi from January 17 to 22, made one thing clear to automobile enthusiasts: Electric vehicles (EVs) are the way ahead for the Indian auto market for years to come.

More the merrier? A tale of multiple self-regulatory organisations

More the merrier? A tale of multiple self-regulatory organisations

Rediff.com7 Feb 2025

Mint Road, on December 21, 2023, flagged the role of self-regulatory organisations (SROs) in strengthening the compliance culture in regulated entities (REs) and providing a consultative platform for policymaking. It also decided to issue an omnibus framework for SROs.

Digital payments in India to double to $7 tn by 2030

Digital payments in India to double to $7 tn by 2030

Rediff.com14 Jul 2024

With digital adoption fast gaining currency, India is likely to see retail digital payments double to $7 trillion by 2030 from current levels, a study by Kearney and Amazon Pay said. In the report 'How Urban India Pays', Kearney-Amazon Pay said strong adoption of digital payments in online purchases has potentially led to a permanent shift in consumer behaviours, fuelling offline adoption as well.

HC grants bail to Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhawale in Elgar Parishad case

HC grants bail to Rona Wilson, Sudhir Dhawale in Elgar Parishad case

Rediff.com8 Jan 2025

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to researcher Rona Wilson and activist Sudhir Dhawale, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case. The court noted that they had been in jail since 2018 and the trial was yet to start. The court said the two had spent more than six years in jail as under-trial prisoners. The NIA, the prosecution agency, did not seek a stay to the HC order. Eight other activists have been granted bail in the case, which pertains to provocative speeches allegedly delivered at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017.

10 Must Watch Stories From Across The World

10 Must Watch Stories From Across The World

Rediff.com20 Feb 2025

This year's Sundance Film Festival was rich with films and the theatres were warm, even as temperatures outside dipped to below freezing point. It snowed only once but the sidewalks remained slippery for a few days.

E-commerce spend driving use of credit cards in non-metros, says Visa

E-commerce spend driving use of credit cards in non-metros, says Visa

Rediff.com14 Jan 2025

With rising disposable incomes in cities beyond metros, the penetration of credit cards - and consequently, credit card spending - is growing at a much faster pace than in traditional metro cities, primarily driven by e-commerce spending.