News for 'Urban India'

Economic Recovery can't be taken for granted

Economic Recovery can't be taken for granted

Rediff.com14 Jul 2021

The fall in urban sentiments in June is worrisome, observes Mahesh Vyas.

Women's unemployment rate at 16-month low; labour participation declines

Women's unemployment rate at 16-month low; labour participation declines

Rediff.com14 Feb 2024

The unemployment rate for women was last this low around Diwali in 2022. The unemployment rate has dropped for women from 14.9 per cent in December 2023 to 11 per cent in January 2024, according to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). It was higher in January 2023 at 13.5 per cent.

PM for revamp of urban governance

PM for revamp of urban governance

Rediff.com21 Oct 2014

Modi pitched for revamping urban governance while linking it to the 'Digital India' mission and 'Swachh Bharat' campaign.

Budget 2024: Real estate sector bats for revival of affordable housing

Budget 2024: Real estate sector bats for revival of affordable housing

Rediff.com29 Jun 2024

The real estate sector wants "high-impact" measures, like special schemes and tax breaks for developers, to revive the fortunes of the affordable housing segment in the country, multiple executives told Business Standard. This segment has been struggling since the Covid-19 outbreak, in contrast to larger and costlier homes which have been selling like hot cakes. The demand comes at a time when the government is taking suggestions from industry players before tabling the General Budget in the Parliament next month.

Use of Indian languages key for increasing internet access in India: Report

Use of Indian languages key for increasing internet access in India: Report

Rediff.com13 Mar 2024

Nearly 665 million Indians or 45 per cent of the rural population did not have access to the internet as of 2023. Difficulty in understanding internet procedures, insufficient awareness of its benefits, and a lack of interest have emerged as the top reasons for a gap in internet penetration in rural India, according to a joint report by the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Kantar. "The proficiency of English in rural India is very low. While we have content in Hindi, the internet is English-heavy.

FMCG cos to face volume pressure in Q4

FMCG cos to face volume pressure in Q4

Rediff.com12 Apr 2024

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies anticipate sustained volume pressures in the January-March quarter (Q4) coupled with sluggish rural growth during the period. Brokerages estimate top-line growth to be in low single digits in the quarter. Also, the late onset of winter had an impact on demand for winter products which range from moisturisers to hot beverages.

The Grim State of Household Incomes

The Grim State of Household Incomes

Rediff.com24 Jun 2021

In the week ended June 6, only 2.3 per cent of the households reported that their incomes were higher than a year ago. This was the lowest-ever proportion of households reporting an increase in income in any week, reveals Mahesh Vyas.

Bengaluru's water crisis: India Inc adopt innovative methods

Bengaluru's water crisis: India Inc adopt innovative methods

Rediff.com14 Mar 2024

From installing water-saving aerators on taps to using cans for washing hands and dishes, Bengaluru is adopting diverse strategies to tide over the water crisis. While several citizens have taken to social media to urge Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to make work from home mandatory for IT companies, it appears that hybrid mode will continue to be the norm for most - although with new water conservation measures in place. Co-working space provider Urban Vault has, for instance, installed smart water meters to detect leakage.

Atishi Marlena In Delhi's Hot Seat

Atishi Marlena In Delhi's Hot Seat

Rediff.com18 Sep 2024

The Delhi battlefield may not be a cakewalk for the Rhodes Scholar.

Does BJP Have Anyone To Match Kejriwal?

Does BJP Have Anyone To Match Kejriwal?

Rediff.com16 Aug 2024

'BJP insiders acknowledge that the party needs to be helmed by someone who can match Arvind Kejriwal's stature.' 'A Sudhanshu Trivedi or Bansuri Swaraj could bring the freshness the party needs in Delhi,' points out Aditi Phadnis.

'We Are Frittering Away The Demographic Dividend'

'We Are Frittering Away The Demographic Dividend'

Rediff.com27 Jun 2024

'it's not just youth in India who are left behind because of their inability to find jobs; nearly two-thirds of Indian women of working ages do not participate at all in the paid labour force.'

RBI raises GDP growth projection to 7.2% for FY25

RBI raises GDP growth projection to 7.2% for FY25

Rediff.com7 Jun 2024

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday revised upwards the GDP growth projection for the current fiscal to 7.2 per cent from 7 per cent on rising private consumption and revival of demand in rural areas. Unveiling the bi-monthly monetary policy, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said estimates released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) placed India's real gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 8.2 per cent in 2023-24. "During 2024-25 so far, domestic economic activity has maintained resilience," he said, adding that manufacturing activity continues to gain ground on the back of strengthening domestic demand.

Youth Are 83% Of The Unemployed

Youth Are 83% Of The Unemployed

Rediff.com3 Jun 2024

'The youth is stressed and students are depressed.'

'Unemployment Is A Ticking Time Bomb!'

'Unemployment Is A Ticking Time Bomb!'

Rediff.com8 Aug 2024

'The government should come back as a job creator as it did in the 1960s and the 1970s.'

Bharat Bandh hits life in Bihar, J'hand, tribal belts

Bharat Bandh hits life in Bihar, J'hand, tribal belts

Rediff.com21 Aug 2024

The response was tepid in other parts of the country even as several INDIA bloc parties as well as other non-BJP outfits extended their support to the bandh.

How Banks Plan To Tackle 'Mule' Fraud

How Banks Plan To Tackle 'Mule' Fraud

Rediff.com8 Aug 2024

'A mule operates someone else's account to transfer illegal money.'

C S Setty: SBI's New Boss

C S Setty: SBI's New Boss

Rediff.com1 Jul 2024

'You will see him frequently asking customers -- especially retail -- about service experience, pain points, areas of improvement and suggestions.'

Shift Of Power In Parliament Post Polls

Shift Of Power In Parliament Post Polls

Rediff.com13 Jun 2024

The increased numbers of the Opposition bloc would mean that their MPs are likely to head several more panels than the four that they did by the end of the term of the 17th Lok Sabha.

EC sets up 200 polling booths inside UP housing societies to pull voters

EC sets up 200 polling booths inside UP housing societies to pull voters

Rediff.com14 Apr 2024

The Election Commission of India has set up more than 200 polling stations within housing societies in the urban areas of Uttar Pradesh to increase the voter turnout in the politically crucial state.

Why Are Voters Not Turning Up To Vote?

Why Are Voters Not Turning Up To Vote?

Rediff.com27 Apr 2024

Is the unusually and unbearably scorching Sun and the general laxity, bordering on laziness, among voters, responsible, asks N Sathiya Moorthy.

Aatmanirbharta not at cost of nation's defence, says vice air chief

Aatmanirbharta not at cost of nation's defence, says vice air chief

Rediff.com19 Jul 2024

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has demonstrated the integration of multiple forces in domains of air, land, sea, cyber, information and space, and how they are "united" to achieve the goal, Vice Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal A P Singh, said on Friday.

Inflation falls to three-month low of 5.1 pc in January

Inflation falls to three-month low of 5.1 pc in January

Rediff.com12 Feb 2024

Retail inflation declined to a three-month low of 5.1 per cent in January, mainly due to subdued prices of vegetables, fruits and other food items, according to government data released on Monday. The fall indicates that retail inflation is inching towards the Reserve Bank's comfort level of 4 per cent. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation was on the rise for two straight months after touching a trough of 4.9 per cent in October 2023. In December, it stood at 5.69 per cent.

Gaming Is Not Just For India's Young

Gaming Is Not Just For India's Young

Rediff.com1 Jun 2023

Meet Nilima Kalra, 79, Manju Roy, 80, Sumita Maan, 79, and Gurpreet Kaur, 75.

Delhi Gets Ready To House New MPs

Delhi Gets Ready To House New MPs

Rediff.com27 May 2024

'We don't have a say which MP stays where. We prepare everything and allot according to the list we get from Parliament.'

Charged-up: Bengaluru takes top spot in electric car registrations

Charged-up: Bengaluru takes top spot in electric car registrations

Rediff.com18 Jun 2024

Bengaluru outpaced Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune in 2023 to become India's leading city for electric car registrations. The city's tech-savvy workforce, increased acceptability, zero road tax, subsidised electricity for EV charging, and a wide charging station network contributed to this surge. Electric car registrations in Karnataka's capital surged more than threefold in 2023 to 8,690 units, overtaking the growth witnessed in the other three cities, according to data from Jato Dynamics

How extreme heat affected Delhi street vendors

How extreme heat affected Delhi street vendors

Rediff.com14 Jun 2024

Seven out of eight women street vendors reported experiencing high blood pressure, while women in the middle age group raised concerns about delays in their menstrual cycles due to the extreme heat.

Honda 2W share rises after on-board norms compliance

Honda 2W share rises after on-board norms compliance

Rediff.com17 Jul 2024

The battle for the top spot in the two-wheeler market is intensifying. The gap between Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) in retail sales narrowed to just 45,607 units in June. This improvement comes as HMSI has clawed back market share after dipping to a historic low of 18 per cent in May 2023. Now, the retail market shares of the two companies are 28.86 per cent and 25.54 per cent, respectively, compared to 35.54 per cent and 18.05 per cent in May 2023.

Thousands join in as Modi leads nation in cleanliness drive ahead of Gandhi Jayanti

Thousands join in as Modi leads nation in cleanliness drive ahead of Gandhi Jayanti

Rediff.com1 Oct 2023

Wielding a broom, the prime minister took part in the drive along with fitness influencer Ankit Baiyanpuriya.

India registered 9.3 lakh cancer deaths, 2nd highest in Asia

India registered 9.3 lakh cancer deaths, 2nd highest in Asia

Rediff.com3 Jan 2024

Researchers found that India, along with China and Japan, were the three leading countries in Asia in terms of number of new cases and deaths, where they say cancer has become a more significant public health threat with 94 lakh new cases and 56 lakh deaths in 2019.

Kerala Congress apologises over Modi-Pope tweet

Kerala Congress apologises over Modi-Pope tweet

Rediff.com17 Jun 2024

The party said no Congress worker would even entertain the remotest thought of insulting the Pope, whom Christians around the world consider as God-like.

How INDIA Can Counter Modi's Popularity

How INDIA Can Counter Modi's Popularity

Rediff.com11 Jan 2024

What the INDIA alliance needs is neither a counter to Modi's tall personality and undiminished charisma nor a counter-narrative to his Hindutva agenda, now centred on the Ayodhya temple consecration on January 22, argues N Sathiya Moorthy.

InterGlobe plans to launch electric air taxi service in India in 2026

InterGlobe plans to launch electric air taxi service in India in 2026

Rediff.com9 Nov 2023

InterGlobe Enterprises on Thursday said it along with Archer Aviation plans to launch an all-electric air taxi service across India in 2026. Once launched, the InterGlobe-Archer flight will aim to take passengers from Connaught Place in the national capital to Gurugram in Haryana in approximately 7 minutes whereas by road, the 27-kilometre-long trip will take 60-90 minutes, according to a release. Both companies have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the goal of partnering to launch and operate an all-electric air taxi service in India, subject to appropriate regulatory approvals and clearances.

Price hike, capex moderation key for further gains in Bharti Airtel stock

Price hike, capex moderation key for further gains in Bharti Airtel stock

Rediff.com18 Jun 2024

From its lows this month, the stock of Bharti Airtel is up 14 per cent. The gains for the telco have come on the back of expectations that market share consolidation, tariff hike and lower capex should boost margins and profits. While the company is a key player in the Indian market, it also has a leadership position in major markets of Africa.

What Star Rating Does Your AC Have?

What Star Rating Does Your AC Have?

Rediff.com18 Jun 2024

Since 2008, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency is running a star rating programme, under which electric equipment are rated according to their efficiency. This in turn helps the consumers save electricity.

'YouTube Shorts pulls in people from all over India'

'YouTube Shorts pulls in people from all over India'

Rediff.com18 Jan 2024

'Two in three creators in India who earn money from YouTube agree that YouTube is their primary source of revenue.'

'India's cities highly segregated on the basis of caste and religion'

'India's cities highly segregated on the basis of caste and religion'

Rediff.com31 Jul 2023

'Government supplied public services are less likely to be found in neighbourhoods with high numbers of Scheduled Castes and Muslims.'

CAA applicants need these documents to prove nationality, arrival date

CAA applicants need these documents to prove nationality, arrival date

Rediff.com12 Mar 2024

Applicants for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019 (CAA) can submit any of nine documents, including valid or expired passport, ID cards and land tenancy records, to prove he or she is a national of Afghanistan or Bangladesh or Pakistan.

45% growth in active internet users in rural India since 2019

45% growth in active internet users in rural India since 2019

Rediff.com6 May 2022

There has been a 45 per cent growth in 'active internet users' in rural India since 2019, according a study by Nielsen, a global company for audience measurement, data and analytics. The Bharat 2.0 Internet report said that female active internet users grew by 61 per cent since 2019. The report said that India has 646 million active Internet users aged 2 years and above as of December 2021. Rural India has 352 million internet users--almost 20 per cent higher than urban.

SC directs AAP to vacate Rouse Avenue office by Aug 10

SC directs AAP to vacate Rouse Avenue office by Aug 10

Rediff.com10 Jun 2024

The top court had on March 4 directed the party to vacate its office by June 15 after noting that the plot was allotted to the Delhi high court for expanding judicial infrastructure.

A Neat Tragedy Called NEET

A Neat Tragedy Called NEET

Rediff.com25 Jul 2024

NEET is a court-ordered examination, supposedly aimed at meritocracy. However, over the past years when the incumbent Narendra Modi government at the Centre began implementing it, it took on political and casteist colours, observes N Sathiya Moorthy.