News for 'Urban Money'

Oben Electric's Rorr EZ Sigma e-bike gets an upgrade

Oben Electric's Rorr EZ Sigma e-bike gets an upgrade

Rediff.com7 Aug 2025

The model is powered by Oben's in-house LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery technology, which the company claims offers greater temperature tolerance and lifespan.

Youth Unemployment Rate Rises For Second Month In A Row

Youth Unemployment Rate Rises For Second Month In A Row

Rediff.com16 Jul 2025

The rise was more pronounced in urban areas than in the rural areas.

The Kia Syros HTX: Yay Or Nay?

The Kia Syros HTX: Yay Or Nay?

Rediff.com17 Sep 2025

While the Syros shines in many areas, its ride quality is a point of contention, notes Rajesh Karkera.

PSBs' share in household deposits falls to 63%; private banks gain ground

PSBs' share in household deposits falls to 63%; private banks gain ground

Rediff.com9 Sep 2025

Public sector banks (PSBs) have seen a sharp drop in household deposits from 70.6 per cent to 63 per cent in contrast with private banks, which witnessed a surge from 27.1 per cent to 34.1 per cent.

Amazon cuts seller fees, boosts AI tools ahead of festive shopping season

Amazon cuts seller fees, boosts AI tools ahead of festive shopping season

Rediff.com8 Sep 2025

Amazon India is repositioning itself as a comprehensive business partner rather than just an e-commerce platform, slashing seller fees and introducing artificial intelligence-powered tools ahead of the country's crucial festive shopping season that could determine the year's retail performance.

HSBC flags 5 positives for Indian equities

HSBC flags 5 positives for Indian equities

Rediff.com3 Sep 2025

Equity benchmarks face a key test as investors weigh consumption revival hopes against tariff pressures and weak earnings. Amidst this, HSBC has outlined tailwinds and risks that could cap gains.

Patients to benefit from GST cut, but pharma firms may face margin pressure

Patients to benefit from GST cut, but pharma firms may face margin pressure

Rediff.com12 Sep 2025

The rationalisation of goods and services tax (GST), announced on Wednesday, directly lowers the cost of everyday medical consumables, and also high-end therapies in oncology and rare diseases, helping reduce out-of-pocket patient expenditure and better adherence to medication.

Govt urges banks to close inoperative Jan Dhan accounts

Govt urges banks to close inoperative Jan Dhan accounts

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

State-owned banks have received guidance from the government to close Jan Dhan accounts whose beneficiaries are unwilling to keep them active, amid rising instances of such accounts being misused by fraudsters as mule accounts to defraud people, people aware of the development said.

How UPI, AePS, Wallets Are Changing India

How UPI, AePS, Wallets Are Changing India

Rediff.com24 Jul 2025

UPI has catapulted India into the forefront on the global digital payments landscape. Working hand in hand, the AePS payments system is making life easy for rural folks, notes Tamal Bandyopadhyay.

'Future policy actions tied to the growth-inflation dynamic'

'Future policy actions tied to the growth-inflation dynamic'

Rediff.com1 Sep 2025

'Given the lag in transmission, further softening of lending rates may happen in the coming months.'

Flipkart, Amazon Stack Up Space For Festival Rush

Flipkart, Amazon Stack Up Space For Festival Rush

Rediff.com9 Sep 2025

Festive sales are expected to surge 27 per cent to cross Rs 120,000 crore in 2025, driving Amazon and Flipkart to expand warehousing capacity by millions of cubic feet and extend delivery networks to thousands of new pin codes -- an infrastructure buildout that could reshape India's retail landscape for years.

'Markets Remain Far From 2024 Euphoria'

'Markets Remain Far From 2024 Euphoria'

Rediff.com5 Sep 2025

'A balanced portfolio mix of domestic and international equity, fixed income, and precious metals is recommended.'

Manufacturing pushes industrial output growth to 4-month high

Manufacturing pushes industrial output growth to 4-month high

Rediff.com28 Aug 2025

India's industrial production growth accelerated to a 4-month high of 3.5 per cent in July this year due to good performance of manufacturing sector, according to official data released on Thursday. The country's industrial output earlier recorded this level of growth at 3.9 per cent in March 2025.

GST and income tax cuts to spark sustained growth

GST and income tax cuts to spark sustained growth

Rediff.com4 Sep 2025

GST Reform 2.0, which trims tax slabs from four to two, signals a push for demand-led growth, and together with recent income tax cuts, sets the stage for sustained economic growth, experts said. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council on September 3 approved an overhaul of the indirect tax regime by taxing essentials at 5 per cent and other goods at 18 per cent. A new 40 per cent tax will be applicable on luxury and sin items.

How To Tackle Credit Card Debt

How To Tackle Credit Card Debt

Rediff.com12 Aug 2025

'Revolving credit without full repayment causes interest to outpace repayment capacity, and leads to financial distress.'

Maharashtra: Sena, BJP ministers tussle over officials' meet

Maharashtra: Sena, BJP ministers tussle over officials' meet

Rediff.com26 Jul 2025

Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat of the Shiv Sena has taken an exception to his junior minister Madhuri Misal belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party holding a meeting with department officials 'without informing' him, with the latter responded saying it was very much within her powers.

RBI's mpc minutes: Status quo in August hinged on tariffs, rate-cut outcome

RBI's mpc minutes: Status quo in August hinged on tariffs, rate-cut outcome

Rediff.com21 Aug 2025

Uncertainties over the impact of the United States' (US') tariffs on India, along with the ongoing transmission of past rate cuts, prompted the members of the Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to maintain the status quo during the August meeting, the minutes showed. While some of the external members highlighted their concern over growth, the internal members cited the one-year headline inflation rate overshooting the 4 per cent target.

2.17 lakh fake notes of various denominations detected in FY25

2.17 lakh fake notes of various denominations detected in FY25

Rediff.com11 Aug 2025

As many as 2.17 lakh pieces of fake notes of various denominations were detected during 2024-25 compared to 2.23 lakh such notes in the previous year, Parliament was informed on Monday. Of this, highest -- 117,722 pieces -- counterfeit notes of 500 [MG (New) Series] were detected in FY25, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

Urban demand stress under watch, festivals may boost consumption: FinMin

Urban demand stress under watch, festivals may boost consumption: FinMin

Rediff.com29 Oct 2024

Days before Diwali, the monthly economic review by the finance ministry has highlighted moderation in urban demand, softening consumer sentiments and limited footfall as areas that need to be watched. In its review, released on Monday, the ministry also noted the early signs of artificial intelligence displacing workers, as described in anecdotal reports. The commentary from several large consumer goods companies, including Nestl India, Hindustan Unilever, and ITC, in their recent quarterly earnings, has been around a sluggish urban demand. Rural consumption, however, has mostly seen a revival, the companies pointed out.

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.

Unemployment rate rises to 5.6% in May

Unemployment rate rises to 5.6% in May

Rediff.com16 Jun 2025

The rate of unemployment in the country, measured in monthly term, rose to 5.6 per cent in May from 5.1 per cent in April this year mainly due to seasonal variation, showed the government data released on Monday.

NPAs in agriculture sector stay high amid loan-saturation concerns

NPAs in agriculture sector stay high amid loan-saturation concerns

Rediff.com4 Aug 2025

Bad loans in the agriculture sector remain elevated, with several public-sector banks (PSBs) reporting higher slippages in the April-June quarter of FY26. For many banks, non-performing assets (NPAs) in farm lending were 5 per cent or more, with some nearing double digits.'

Move over incentives, time for 'soft' mandates on EVs: Niti Aayog

Move over incentives, time for 'soft' mandates on EVs: Niti Aayog

Rediff.com5 Aug 2025

After a slew of programmes to facilitate electric-vehicle (EV) adoption in India, the NITI Aayog has said the government has done enough on incentives and now it's time to take the programme a step further with "strong signals" through regulations and mandates.

Will money in hand from tax breaks spur housing demand?

Will money in hand from tax breaks spur housing demand?

Rediff.com21 Apr 2025

Real estate developers are hoping that the slew of tax concessions announced in Union Budget 2025, set to take effect this financial year, will spur demand for affordable and mid-segment housing, even as the broader housing market shows signs of fatigue.

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.

Kia Sonet: A Facelift for an Urban Favorite

Kia Sonet: A Facelift for an Urban Favorite

Rediff.com30 Sep 2024

While the exterior has undergone minor refinements, the real improvements lie within, notes Rajesh Karkera/Rediff.com.

'I Wouldn't Change Anything In Sholay'

'I Wouldn't Change Anything In Sholay'

Rediff.com8 Aug 2025

'Sholay had a sargam of human emotions.'

'Markets Have Already Scaled A Wall Of Worry'

'Markets Have Already Scaled A Wall Of Worry'

Rediff.com7 Aug 2025

'From tariff tensions and border skirmishes to unrest in West Asia.' 'The worst may be behind us. But any further upmove will now have to come from earnings.'

Musk's Starlink Can Only Target 2M Users

Musk's Starlink Can Only Target 2M Users

Rediff.com29 Jul 2025

... with a maximum speed of 200 megabits per second (mbps) across the country for Rs 3,000 per month.

Tata Harrier.ev Is A Silent Beast With Roaring Statement

Tata Harrier.ev Is A Silent Beast With Roaring Statement

Rediff.com23 Jul 2025

The Tata Harrier.ev is a car that makes you feel safe and powerful within a luxurious cocoon, raves Rajesh Karkera/Rediff after a gruelling test drive.

Digital debt collection makes strides as lenders use tech to cut visits

Digital debt collection makes strides as lenders use tech to cut visits

Rediff.com4 Aug 2025

"We currently manage collections for over 98 million retail and small-business loan accounts, covering a loan book of about $250 billion," says Rishabh Goel, cofounder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Credgenics, a software-as-a-service platform for debt collection. With more than 700 million smartphone users and over 450 million UPI users, digital access is everywhere.

Offered money: MUDA complainant alleges pressure from aide of Sidda's wife

Offered money: MUDA complainant alleges pressure from aide of Sidda's wife

Rediff.com18 Dec 2024

An RTI activist, Snehamayi Krishna, has alleged that a person claiming to be the personal assistant of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's wife, Parvathi B M, attempted to lure and pressure him and his son to drop their demand for a CBI probe into the MUDA site allotment scam. Krishna claims that he was offered money in exchange for not pursuing the case further. The incident comes amidst ongoing investigations by the Lokayukta and ED into the alleged irregularities in the allotment of land to Parvathi.

Urban unemployment declines to 6.6% in Q1

Urban unemployment declines to 6.6% in Q1

Rediff.com19 Aug 2024

Employment in urban areas in the first quarter of 2024-25 (FY25) improved over the previous one. The unemployment rate in April-June (Q1) declined to 6.6 per cent from a four-quarter high of 6.7 per cent in January-March FY24 owing to the fall in the male unemployment rate, according to the quarterly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Friday.

Why Affordable Housing Will Remain Muted Despite Rate Cut

Why Affordable Housing Will Remain Muted Despite Rate Cut

Rediff.com10 Jul 2025

While demand for sub Rs 50-lakh affordable housing prevails, market players cite increased land rates, escalated construction costs and low margins as key prohibiting factors.

Retail inflation eases to over 6-yr low of 2.1% in June

Retail inflation eases to over 6-yr low of 2.1% in June

Rediff.com14 Jul 2025

Retail inflation declined to over six-year low of 2.1 per cent in June, nearing the RBI's comfort zone, on account of subdued prices of food items, including vegetables, driven by widespread monsoon.

Sensex ends down 176 points; IT, oil stocks drag

Sensex ends down 176 points; IT, oil stocks drag

Rediff.com9 Jul 2025

From the Sensex firms, HCL Tech, Tata Steel, Tech Mahindra, Reliance Industries, Bharat Electronics and ICICI Bank were among the laggards. Bajaj Finance, Hindustan Unilever, UltraTech Cement and Power Grid were among the gainers.

Mid-Income Homebuyers Return as Banks Slash Loan Rates

Mid-Income Homebuyers Return as Banks Slash Loan Rates

Rediff.com29 Jul 2025

Home purchase affordability has improved in the first half of calendar year (CY) 2025, after the RBI reduced the repo rate by 100 basis points (bps), according to real estate consultancy Knight Frank India.

Vietnam's VinFast opens eSUV bookings on Tesla's big day

Vietnam's VinFast opens eSUV bookings on Tesla's big day

Rediff.com16 Jul 2025

VF 7 and VF 6, as the models are called, will go on sale in August after the inauguration of VinFast's plant in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, and deliveries will follow later.

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.

Real estate slow to embrace technology as expenses mount

Real estate slow to embrace technology as expenses mount

Rediff.com14 Jul 2025

Even as sectors across India embrace technological transformation, the construction side of the real estate industry continues to trail global trends. While technologies like Building Information Modelling (BIM), 3D printing, drone surveillance, and IoT-enabled smart building systems are increasingly common overseas, their adoption in Indian construction remains limited and largely experimental, developers said.