Uttam Ghosh offers his take on 50 days of demonetisation.
The rate of unemployment in the country declined to 5.2 per cent in July from 5.6 per cent in June, a government survey said on Monday. The unemployment rate (UR) in May was also 5.6 per cent, said the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
'From every point of view, they have faced an extremely difficult couple of years, and the setback they have suffered is irreversible.' 'This reality has begun to set in even amongst the top-level cadres. That is why, in recent times, we have witnessed a huge number of senior-level cadres emerging from the jungle and deciding to renounce violence and join the mainstream.'
Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com offers his take on the battle for Delhi's assembly.
Uttam Ghosh offers his take on the Akbar controversy.
The Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority of India (Irdai) on Wednesday proposed setting up an internal insurance ombudsman for insurance companies -- except reinsurers-- with over three years of operation, to address unresolved complaints. The ombudsman will have power to hear complaints for claims up to Rs 50 lakhs.
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.
State-owned Bank of Baroda (BoB) on Sunday said it has cut its benchmark lending rate linked to repo rate by 50 basis points in line with the RBI's rate reduction. Meanwhile, private sector HDFC Bank reduced its Marginal Cost of Funds-based Lending Rates (MCLR) by 10 basis points across tenure, which will benefit borrowers whose loans are linked to this benchmark.
Uttam Ghosh offers his unique take on the prime minister's birthday.
Private equity and venture capital investments dropped to $4.7 billion in April this year on heightened uncertainty and high valuation expectations of sellers, a report said on Monday. The overall amount invested is 6 per cent lower than the $4.9 billion recorded in April 2024, and 20 per cent lower than the $5.9 billion in March 2025, the report by industry body IVCA and consultancy firm EY, said.
Uttam Ghosh wonders why the slightest hint of dissent so irks the most authoritarian government since Indira Gandhi's time that it deploys the agencies at its command to try and silence dissenting voices.
The number of companies with promoters whose demat accounts were frozen by the stock exchanges due to non-compliance increased over the past year. The BSE froze promoter demat accounts in 457 companies, according to data from the Securities and Exchange Board of India's (Sebi's) 2024-25 annual report released on August 12.
India's BFSI sector is set for robust growth, with hiring projected to rise 8.7 per cent in 2025-26 and touch 10 per cent by 2030, creating nearly 2.5 lakh permanent jobs, a report said on Thursday. This growth in the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector is being driven by rising demand in tier II and III cities, marking a clear shift from metro-centric recruitment.
Commercial banks in India reported 26 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in slippages at Rs 63,000 crore during the first quarter ended June 2025 (Q1FY26). This was predominantly due to stress in microfinance and unsecured retail portfolios of select lenders.
Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com offers his take on the raging controversy over the Ghar Vapsi -- conversion of Muslim and Christians -- programmes planned by fundamentalist Hindu outfits, which has disrupted Parliament all week.
Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com offers his unique perspective on several issues of the day.
Uttam Ghosh offers his take on the Aamir Khan controversy.
Uttam Ghosh offers his take on the RBI's revelation that Rs 15.28 lakh crore, or 99 per cent of the junked 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, have returned to the banking system.
Uma Bharti, sanyasin and India's minister for river welfare, sourced the inspiration for demonetisation when she told the Economic Times earlier this week that Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'has implemented Karl Marx's idea on black money.'
Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com offers his perspective on the political circus that poll-bound Uttar Pradesh has turned into.
Uttam Ghosh offers his take on these contrasting images of Freedom of Speech that exists in our great land.
The government's decision to permit in-flight calls gave Uttam Ghosh a shudder as he imagines what may ensue on domestic flights once Indians get talking on their cell phones.
Uttam Ghosh on how the government's move to give 'yoga visas' may backfire.
Uttam Ghosh On the controversy surrounding Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's World Culture Festival.
As Rahul Gandhi resumed the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Nanded district on November 9, Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com spoke with yatris who have walked from Kanyakumari for more than 63 days.
Following Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's promise to extend sops given in her state tp all over India if she becomes prime minister, Rediff.com's Uttam Ghosh offers his perspective.
From the 30 blue-chip stocks, Titan, Asian Paints, Nestle, Tech Mahindra, Reliance Industries, Zomato, Larsen & Toubro and Bajaj Finserv were among the laggards. Adani Ports, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti, Sun Pharma, Bharti Airtel and Tata Motors were among the gainers.
A parliamentary panel has sought details from two key government ministries on actions planned against social media platforms and influencers who "seem to be working against national interest" following a recent terror attack in Pahalgam. The panel, headed by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, has asked the ministries of Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and Information Technology to provide details of any contemplated action to ban such platforms under the IT Act 2000 and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. However, a member of the panel, Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale, has denied receiving any communication related to the issue and claims that the chairperson cannot issue a statement without the approval of the committee.
Uttam Ghosh offers his take on the Kerala floods and the Centre's relief response.
Uttam Ghosh offers his take on the events of August 5, 2020.
Uttam's Take: Narendra Modi's Chai Pe Charcha
Uttam Ghosh offers his take on the ultimate sacrifice by then soldiers of the Madras Regiment on the Siachen glacier, the world's highest battlefield.
India's 18 largest states, accounting for over 90 per cent of the country's gross state domestic product (GSDP), are likely to record a marginal uptick in revenue growth to 7-9 per cent this year, from 6.6 per cent clocked in 2024-25 (FY25), rating agency Crisil said in a report on Tuesday. This growth, slower than the decadal average of about 10 per cent, would lift these states' cumulative revenue to around Rs 40 trillion in FY26 from Rs 37.26 trillion in FY25.
surveys the scene in Jammu and Kashmir following separatist leader Masarat Alam's release.
Equity investors are up for an eventful trading week ahead as the 90-day suspension period of the reciprocal tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump ends on July 9, analysts said, adding that a positive outcome from the trade negotiations could further lift market sentiment, particularly benefiting trade-sensitive sectors.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday met the long-standing demand of banks by allowing them to finance acquisitions by Indian companies, a move that also expands banks' capital market lending in the country.
'Techies who did a master's there and moved to US companies look down on Indian companies who they consider as just doing body shopping.'
Indian corporate are increasingly shifting away from bank funding towards alternative sources, such as equity and bond markets, as their deleveraged balance sheets have improved their ability to raise equity at better valuations. Moreover, the 100 basis points (bps) rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has enabled them to access long-term funds from the debt capital market at cheaper rates.
Uttam Ghosh outlins the festive madness