News for 'Urban India'

Deloitte pegs India's FY25 GDP growth at 6.6%

Deloitte pegs India's FY25 GDP growth at 6.6%

Rediff.com26 Apr 2024

Deloitte India on Friday said it estimates India's GDP growth at 6.6 per cent in the current fiscal helped by consumption expenditure, exports rebound and capital flows. In its India's economic outlook report, Deloitte said the rapid growth of the middle-income class has led to rising purchasing power and even created demand for premium luxury products and services. With the expectation that the number of middle-to-high-income segments will be one in two households by 2030/31, up from one in four currently, we believe this trend will likely become further amplified, driving overall private consumer expenditure growth, it said.

'Hybrid vehicles are an intermediate solution'

'Hybrid vehicles are an intermediate solution'

Rediff.com26 Sep 2024

'In terms of incentives, if you think about it, hybrids are a 20-year-old technology.'

Lorries Being Gifted This Wedding Season!

Lorries Being Gifted This Wedding Season!

Rediff.com27 Nov 2024

Another trend: A preference for coloured diamonds among brides, who are pairing them with their groom's birthstone. So, along with yellow or white diamonds, they are choosing pink, green, blue sapphires, emeralds or red rubies.

'Is it usual for a store to be empty at 6 pm?'

'Is it usual for a store to be empty at 6 pm?'

Rediff.com2 Jan 2024

'Due to rural stress, volumes continue to remain an issue for the industry, and we are yet to see any revival in demand.'

'Because he never read it': Rahul's retort to Modi on Constitution

'Because he never read it': Rahul's retort to Modi on Constitution

Rediff.com15 Nov 2024

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi thinks that the Constitution of India is 'blank' because he has never read it.

Over To The Rain Gods To Lift Consumer Mood

Over To The Rain Gods To Lift Consumer Mood

Rediff.com24 Aug 2022

The 6.7% growth in Index of Consumer Sentiments in July 2022 is the highest since September 2021, explains Mahesh Vyas.

Rural two-wheeler demand roars back to life in first half of 2024

Rural two-wheeler demand roars back to life in first half of 2024

Rediff.com22 Jul 2024

The two-wheeler segment has shown signs of recovery in the first half (H1) of calendar year (CY) 2024, largely driven by improving performance in rural areas. According to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations, rural contribution to two-wheeler sales surged by 57-60 per cent in the April-June quarter of 2024-25, indicating a rising demand in these regions. Experts believe that this trend will continue, supported by a favourable monsoon season and government initiatives aimed at rural development.

Moody's raises India's 2024 growth forecast to 6.8%

Moody's raises India's 2024 growth forecast to 6.8%

Rediff.com4 Mar 2024

Global rating agency Moody's on Monday raised India's growth forecast for 2024 calendar year to 6.8 per cent, from 6.1 per cent estimated earlier, on the back of 'stronger-than-expected' economic data of 2023 and fading global economic headwinds. India's real GDP expanded 8.4 per cent year-over-year in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2023, resulting in a 7.7 per cent growth for full-year 2023. Capital spending by the government and strong manufacturing activity have meaningfully contributed to the robust growth outcomes in 2023, Moody's Investors Service said.

PC makers look to hitch a ride on the q-com bandwagon

PC makers look to hitch a ride on the q-com bandwagon

Rediff.com7 Oct 2024

Bengaluru-based Sunny Gupta had been searching for a laptop for months. In August, while sitting at a coffee shop, he decided to order an Acer Predator laptop - typically priced between Rs 95,000 and Rs 2.5 lakh - through the quick-commerce (q-com) platform Flipkart Minutes. "It took exactly 13 minutes from payment to receiving it at the Starbucks I ordered it to," he wrote in a now-viral post on social media platform X.

'Rates to remain elevated for bulk deposits'

'Rates to remain elevated for bulk deposits'

Rediff.com21 Aug 2024

'In the case of corporate credit, especially to AAA borrowers, lenders will have to take a fresh look at pricing.'

'This Election Captures The Evolution Of India From 2014 To 2024'

'This Election Captures The Evolution Of India From 2014 To 2024'

Rediff.com4 May 2024

'2019 was fought on delivery. But in 2024, you can see the before and after effects.'

Viksit Bharat@2047 is an ambition of every Indian: PM

Viksit Bharat@2047 is an ambition of every Indian: PM

Rediff.com27 Jul 2024

Making India a developed nation by 2047 is an ambition of every Indian, and states can play an active role in achieving this aim as they are directly connected with the people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. Modi is chairing the 9th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog.

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.

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.

15 dead, many hospitalised as north India reels under punishing heatwave

15 dead, many hospitalised as north India reels under punishing heatwave

Rediff.com20 Jun 2024

To ensure immediate cooling of the body, the hospital has set up a first-of-its-kind heatstroke unit.

MNCs look towards India for a booster dose

MNCs look towards India for a booster dose

Rediff.com1 Apr 2024

In recent months, several pharma multinational corporations (MNCs) are increasingly turning to Indian companies to expand market reach in the country's pharmaceuticals sector. Sanofi's partnerships with Dr Reddy's, Cipla, and Emcure, AstraZeneca and Mankind Pharma - teaming up for asthma medication distribution - are a few instances of this trend. This strategy allows MNCs to leverage established Indian networks and reach a wider audience. Indian companies also benefit from global brands and expertise, say analysts.

Over 100 mn consumers want to upgrade to 5G in India: Ericcson report

Over 100 mn consumers want to upgrade to 5G in India: Ericcson report

Rediff.com29 Sep 2022

More than 100 million users with 5G-ready smartphones wish to upgrade to a 5G subscription in 2023 while a majority of them are open to adopting a higher data-tiered plan in the next 12 months, a report by Ericsson Consumer Lab has shown. Titled "Promise of 5G in India", the study carried out in the second quarter this year reflects the views of 300 million urban smartphone users. According to the study, consumer 5G readiness remains one of the highest in the world.

Will India CHANGE In Modi 3.0?

Will India CHANGE In Modi 3.0?

Rediff.com27 Jun 2024

The climate for 'doing business' remains forbidding, taxtortion is still rife, corruption at state and district levels has increased, oil prices remain extortive with high taxation, and the continued red tape has kept the enterprise system as stifled as before, points out Debashis Basu.

Villupuram reels under record floods, railway suspends ops

Villupuram reels under record floods, railway suspends ops

Rediff.com3 Dec 2024

Villpuram district in north Tamil Nadu continued to reel under unprecedented flooding on Monday following extremely heavy rainfall, virtually blocking access to villages and residential colonies as bridges and roads overflowed, inundating huge acreage of standing crops and leaving passengers stranded as rail and road traffic was hit.

Bypoll boost for NDA in Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya; jolt in Bengal

Bypoll boost for NDA in Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya; jolt in Bengal

Rediff.com23 Nov 2024

The juggernaut of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, which triumphed in three of the four east and north-eastern states that went for assembly bypolls on Saturday, was halted yet again in West Bengal where Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress registered a six-on-six clean sweep.

ATMs to loans: All eyes on the road for finance world

ATMs to loans: All eyes on the road for finance world

Rediff.com6 Jan 2025

In the Union Budget for Financial Year 2023-24 (FY24), Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had held forth on the need for better governance and investor protection in the banking sector. She had proposed certain amendments to the Reserve Bank of India Act (RBI Act), 1934; the Banking Regulation Act (BR Act), 1949; and the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970.

RBI to Hold Rates Steady at 6.50%

RBI to Hold Rates Steady at 6.50%

Rediff.com29 Nov 2024

'The RBI's MPC will maintain the current policy rates (6.50%) at the policy meeting, given ongoing inflationary pressures.'

Retail inflation rises to 15-month high of 7.44% in July

Retail inflation rises to 15-month high of 7.44% in July

Rediff.com14 Aug 2023

Retail inflation jumped to a 15-month high of 7.44 per cent in July as prices of vegetables and other food items spiked, according to official data released on Monday. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation was at 4.87 in June and 6.71 per cent in July 2022. Previously, high inflation was recorded at 7.79 per cent in April 2022.

''Growth Expected To Be 1% Below Last Year'

''Growth Expected To Be 1% Below Last Year'

Rediff.com3 Sep 2024

'A possible post-election growth momentum may be lost.'

'Don't Jump In Because It's Fashionable To Be An Entrepreneur'

'Don't Jump In Because It's Fashionable To Be An Entrepreneur'

Rediff.com12 Nov 2024

'I tell young entrepreneurs if you don't have a great idea, if you don't have a good business model, don't think of a start-up.'

'Budget Is Not Serious About Jobs'

'Budget Is Not Serious About Jobs'

Rediff.com29 Jul 2024

'They think quick fixes like internship in the private sector will help. 'In fact, internships have been going on for the last one decade.' 'In 2014-2015 itself, we had a ministry of skill development. None of the programmes have yielded results, still they are continuing with such schemes under some other name.' 'We don't see any seriousness on the part of the government to attack the problem of unemployment.'

Not following UP model, told party: Vikramaditya Singh

Not following UP model, told party: Vikramaditya Singh

Rediff.com28 Sep 2024

He said the multi-party committee formed by the Speaker in Himachal Pradesh would discuss all issues about street vending on October 3. Singh's remarks came a day after the Congress top brass chided him over his remarks on mandatory display of names by the street vendors and told him that no one was allowed to go against the party's policies and ideologies.

My Top Films Of 2024

My Top Films Of 2024

Rediff.com23 Dec 2024

Despite the mediocrity at large, these films had me in raptures for the emotions they evoked within as a cheering audience, critic and cinephile.

Northwest India swelters under extreme heat as mercury breaches 45 deg C mark

Northwest India swelters under extreme heat as mercury breaches 45 deg C mark

Rediff.com18 May 2024

The Met office has issued a "red" warning for Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and west Rajasthan, stressing the need for "extreme care for vulnerable people".

SBI to hire over 15,000 in FY25 to boost operations, expand network

SBI to hire over 15,000 in FY25 to boost operations, expand network

Rediff.com13 May 2024

State Bank of India (SBI) is planning to recruit over 15,000 people in 2024-25, increasing the strength of those in the field for marketing. The recruits will be also for deployment in the bank's operations subsidiary and expanding the branch network. The operations subsidiary - State Bank Operations Support Services - became functional last year.

Can Smoking Lead To Heart Attack?

Can Smoking Lead To Heart Attack?

Rediff.com17 Dec 2024

Dr Ashish Mishra, consultant interventional cardiologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, explains how smoking and alcohol can impair your heart health and lead to cardiac arrest.

Fate of 683 candidates in balance as 43 seats in Jharkhand vote

Fate of 683 candidates in balance as 43 seats in Jharkhand vote

Rediff.com13 Nov 2024

However, in 950 booths, voting will end at 4 pm, though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to exercise their franchise.

Why Elon Musk is 'thankful' to Jyotiraditya Scindia

Why Elon Musk is 'thankful' to Jyotiraditya Scindia

Rediff.com16 Oct 2024

Tech billionaire Elon Musk thanked Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia for not agreeing with Indian tycoons Mukesh Ambani and Sunil Bharti Mittal on auctioning spectrum for satellite services, saying he is looking forward to serving Indians. Reacting to Scindia's statement that satellite spectrum will not be auctioned, Musk, in a post on X, said, "much appreciated! We will do our best to serve the people of India with Starlink".

Union Budget 2024 remains largely neutral for stock markets in India

Union Budget 2024 remains largely neutral for stock markets in India

Rediff.com25 Jul 2024

Overall market reaction to the Budget was neutral. Investors absorbed the changes to the tax rates (positive for salaried class) and capital gains taxes (CGTs, negative due to the removal of indexation and increases. Other proposals largely pertain to supporting rural development, buybacks taxed as dividends, Custom duty changes that impact multiple sectors, higher outlays for clean energy, etc. There's some moderation in the growth of capex outlay across defence, fer

This Mum Helps Women Return To Work

This Mum Helps Women Return To Work

Rediff.com3 Jan 2025

In two years, the start-up Overqualified Housewives has helped over 6,000 women across India find flexible-job roles across India from salaries ranging between Rs 8,000 to Rs 80,000, making them financially independent.

Havells, Polycab flip the switch on high-voltage growth potential

Havells, Polycab flip the switch on high-voltage growth potential

Rediff.com28 Oct 2024

The July-September quarter (Q2) results for 2024-25 (FY25) from the largest listed consumer electrical solutions companies, Havells India and Polycab India, followed similar trends, demonstrating robust revenue growth while falling short of profitability expectations. Both companies witnessed overall growth in the 16-30 per cent range, but margins declined by 130-290 basis points (bps) year-on-year (Y-o-Y). Although brokerages are bullish on long-term prospects and have raised revenue projections, earnings forecasts have been revised downward due to margin pressures.

MVA govt planned to arrest Fadnavis, when I objected...: Shinde

MVA govt planned to arrest Fadnavis, when I objected...: Shinde

Rediff.com18 Aug 2024

The MVA government had planned to arrest Devendra Fadnavis and when he objected, they planned to arrest him as well, said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Which Would You Choose: Gelephu or Neom?

Which Would You Choose: Gelephu or Neom?

Rediff.com6 Dec 2024

Live on one of Gelephu's inhabitable bridges where elephants will saunter past, be it day or night; or be homed in a never-ending building with flying cars and robot maids? asks ambivalent Sandeep Goyal.

2024's 10 Best OTT Films

2024's 10 Best OTT Films

Rediff.com17 Dec 2024

The top 10 films of the year may not be great by themselves but they stand out amidst the other OTT releases.

As Bengaluru gets inundated in rains, netizens flood social media

As Bengaluru gets inundated in rains, netizens flood social media

Rediff.com21 Oct 2024

Amid the heavy downpour in Bengaluru, residents of many flood-affected areas have taken to social media to pour out their woes ranging from waterlogging to complaining about "crumbling" infrastructure.