News for 'approval rating'

MobiKwik to delay IPO; turns to private market

MobiKwik to delay IPO; turns to private market

Rediff.com9 Mar 2022

With the stock market turning choppy, fintech start-up MobiKwik, which had filed a draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) to raise around $250 million through an initial public offering (IPO), is now looking to raise money from the private market. "We will raise private money but we are not in dire need. "The business was profitable for the first time in the December quarter on a top line of around Rs 150 crore and that will be maintained in the March quarter also. We are generating cash," said Upasana Taku, co-founder of MobiKwik.

Travel firms expect heavy rush as US lifts curbs

Travel firms expect heavy rush as US lifts curbs

Rediff.com18 Oct 2021

Travel companies are expecting a heavy rush to the US following the withdrawal of curbs on fully vaccinated travellers from select countries, including India, on November 8. The move will benefit those holding long-term tourist, business, and work visas. Also, new and extra flights by Air India and American Airlines are expected to provide better travel options.

Will Modi Revive Farm Laws?

Will Modi Revive Farm Laws?

Rediff.com6 Apr 2022

But it would be unwise on the government's part not to heed the suggestions made by the experts group, set up by the Supreme Court, in particular the one on involving the states and giving them the flexibility in designing and implementing the farm laws, observes A K Bhattacharya.

Covaxin 50% effective against symptomatic Covid: Lancet

Covaxin 50% effective against symptomatic Covid: Lancet

Rediff.com24 Nov 2021

Results of an interim study recently published in The Lancet showed that two doses of Covaxin, also known as BBV152, had 77.8 per cent efficacy against symptomatic disease and present no serious safety concerns.

Bonanza for around 30 mn industrial workers

Bonanza for around 30 mn industrial workers

Rediff.com11 Mar 2020

The Seventh Pay Commission had decided to choose the CPI-IW as the index for adjusting inflation for central government employees.

Govt hikes DA for govt employees, pensioners by 4%

Govt hikes DA for govt employees, pensioners by 4%

Rediff.com13 Mar 2020

It will benefit about 48.34 lakh central government employees and 65.26 lakh pensioners.

How BSNL can turn around its fortune post Rs 1.64-trn govt package

How BSNL can turn around its fortune post Rs 1.64-trn govt package

Rediff.com1 Sep 2022

Just a few weeks ago, Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw did some tough talking with the senior managers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, the ailing state-owned telecom service provider. The message was clear: They had to perform, quit by taking the voluntary retirement package or be compulsorily retired from service. The terse message from an otherwise polite and soft-spoken minister came just days after he announced a second and bigger package of Rs 1.64 trillion as part of a four-year turnaround plan for BSNL.

Check out all that happened at the GST meet

Check out all that happened at the GST meet

Rediff.com21 Jun 2019

GST Council extends anti-profiteering authority's tenure, sends rate cut on EVs to fitment panel and also extended the date for filing annual returns under the GST by two months to August 30.

Health ministry ready to roll out COVID-19 vaccine in around a week

Health ministry ready to roll out COVID-19 vaccine in around a week

Rediff.com5 Jan 2021

Addressing a press briefing, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said healthcare workers and frontline workers need not register themselves as their database has been populated on to the Co-WIN vaccine delivery management system in a bulk manner.

Why India's poverty rate has fallen to 12.4%

Why India's poverty rate has fallen to 12.4%

Rediff.com15 Oct 2015

The World Bank said improved infrastructure, specifically rural electrification, has had far-ranging effects

Cabinet nods Rs 15,000 cr scheme for pharma sector

Cabinet nods Rs 15,000 cr scheme for pharma sector

Rediff.com24 Feb 2021

The government on Wednesday approved a production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the pharmaceutical sector, entailing an outlay of Rs 15,000 crore. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the scheme which will benefit domestic manufacturers, help create employment and is expected to contribute to the availability of a wider range of affordable medicines for consumers. The duration of the scheme would be from 2020-21 to 2028-29 and is expected to promote the production of high value products in the country and increase the value addition in exports, an official release said.

Of power, privatisation and politics

Of power, privatisation and politics

Rediff.com26 Aug 2021

As the Centre pushes reforms in the power sector, especially for the beleaguered electricity distribution segment, several states, especially those ruled by Opposition parties, are clamouring against it. Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerela have voiced their reservations against the proposed amendments to the Electricity Act, 2003. The irony is the states opposing the amendments on the ground of threat of privatisation already have private partnerships in power supply. The proposed Bill was slated to be placed on the floor of Parliament in the Monsoon session. But it still awaits Cabinet approval amid several states complaining that they have been not consulted on the issue.

Russia-Ukraine crisis: IPO market grinds to a halt after a blockbuster 2021

Russia-Ukraine crisis: IPO market grinds to a halt after a blockbuster 2021

Rediff.com19 Mar 2022

The initial public offering (IPO) market has come to a grinding halt due to sharp correction in the broader markets and uncertain outlook created by the Russia-Ukraine offensive. So far this year, only three companies have managed to launch their maiden share sales. In comparison, close to 10 companies were able to come out with their IPOs during the same period last year. Investment bankers say it will be challenging to launch a single deal in March as large institutional investors have turned extremely risk-averse and don't wish to commit any capital.

EPFO to pay 8.5% interest for FY20 in two instalments

EPFO to pay 8.5% interest for FY20 in two instalments

Rediff.com10 Sep 2020

The remaining 0.35 per cent will be credited in December this year, if the EPFO is able to redeem its equity investments.

Free COVID-19 vaccine in Delhi to all above 18

Free COVID-19 vaccine in Delhi to all above 18

Rediff.com26 Apr 2021

Kejriwal said COVID-19 vaccines should have one price and appealed to the Centre to bring down the price.

12 suggestions to solve India's COVID-19 economic woes

12 suggestions to solve India's COVID-19 economic woes

Rediff.com6 May 2020

'A total overall of the existing way of working by abolishing taxes and allowing citizens to help themselves without any government bottlenecks and impediments,' observes Rahul Mishra.

IAF releases details of recruitment plan under Agnipath scheme

IAF releases details of recruitment plan under Agnipath scheme

Rediff.com19 Jun 2022

Agniveers once enrolled into the Indian Air Force, will be governed under the Air Force Act 1950, for a period of four years.

Covid curbs: Not allowed to board, Delhiites vandalise buses

Covid curbs: Not allowed to board, Delhiites vandalise buses

Rediff.com30 Dec 2021

Police used mild force to disperse the crowd and five people have been detained, officials said.

More rift in the IOA?

More rift in the IOA?

Rediff.com29 May 2020

IOA Finance Committee chairman Khanna defends decision on Tokyo Games hotel bookings for Tokyo Games, says can't authorise expenditure in absence of approval from President or Secretary General. Indian Weightlifting Federation secretary general Sahdev Yadav resigned as member of the finance committee, saying he was doing so "to maintain self-respect".

Sensex, Nifty race to over 1-week high amid global stock rally

Sensex, Nifty race to over 1-week high amid global stock rally

Rediff.com28 Dec 2021

The 30-share BSE Sensex surged by 477.24 points or 0.83 per cent to close at more than one-week high of 57,897.48. As many as 28 of its constituents closed with gains while two declined. The broad-based Nifty of the National Stock Exchange rose by 147.20 points or 0.86 per cent to settle 17,233.45, tracking gains in Sun Pharma, Asian Paints, and Reliance Industries.

ICMR to conduct nationwide sero surveys on Covid spread

ICMR to conduct nationwide sero surveys on Covid spread

Rediff.com12 Jun 2021

The Indian Council of Medical Research will start national-level sero surveys to assess the spread of Covid-19 and all states/Union territories should also be encouraged to conduct them so that information from all geographies can be collected, the Union health ministry said on Friday.

FDA hikes fee for drug approvals, cuts unit inspection charge

FDA hikes fee for drug approvals, cuts unit inspection charge

Rediff.com5 Aug 2015

The fees for facility inspection of foreign companies have been reduced

Centre may not get costly Pfizer vaccine

Centre may not get costly Pfizer vaccine

Rediff.com22 Dec 2020

At $37 per dose, the Pfizer vaccine is much more expensive compared to $3 per dose for the Covishield.

3 eminent economists in RBI's monetary committee

3 eminent economists in RBI's monetary committee

Rediff.com6 Oct 2020

The government on Monday appointed three eminent economists Ashima Goyal, Jayanth R Varma and Shankanka Bhide as members of the rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee of the RBI

Govt to buy another 4.5 crore doses of Covishield

Govt to buy another 4.5 crore doses of Covishield

Rediff.com12 Jan 2021

According to the purchase order placed on Monday, each dose of the vaccine has been priced at Rs 200 and with GST of Rs 10, it would cost Rs 210.

Cong leaders raise concern over emergency vaccine nod

Cong leaders raise concern over emergency vaccine nod

Rediff.com4 Jan 2021

Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma on Sunday raised concerns over India's drugs regulator granting permission for restricted use of Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine and asked the government to explain why mandatory protocols and verification of data has been dispensed with.

Airtel hikes prepaid tariffs by 20-25%

Airtel hikes prepaid tariffs by 20-25%

Rediff.com22 Nov 2021

Telecom operator Bharti Airtel on Monday announced 20-25 per cent tariff hikes for various prepaid offerings, including tariffed voice plans, unlimited voice bundles and data top-ups, and said the new rates will come into effect from November 26. The entry-level tariffed voice plan has been raised by about 25 per cent, while for unlimited voice bundles, the increase in most cases is about 20 per cent. Sunil Mittal led telco -- whose India mobile customer base stood at about 323 million at the last count -- has also increased the tariffs for data top-up plans by about 20-21 per cent

Covaxin has tolerable safety: Lancet

Covaxin has tolerable safety: Lancet

Rediff.com23 Jan 2021

The vaccine was well tolerated in all dose groups with no vaccine-related adverse events.

How DTC may bring relief on I-T rates

How DTC may bring relief on I-T rates

Rediff.com30 Oct 2012

At a press conference on Monday, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said when the final version of the Bill was tabled in Parliament, the government would abide by the recommendations of the parliamentary standing committee on DTC.

Indian cos bear brunt of H1B visa denial, shows study

Indian cos bear brunt of H1B visa denial, shows study

Rediff.com5 Mar 2020

While the denial rate has dropped slightly to 21 per cent in 2019 from 24 per cent in 2018, the National Foundation for American Policy has said it is much higher for Indian IT companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Wipro and very low for American companies like Amazon and Google. For instance, the denial rate for TCS and Infosys in 2019 was 31 per cent and 35 per cent respectively, whereas for Wipro it was 47 per cent and 37 per cent for Tech Mahindra. On the other hand, the denial rate for the new H-1B petitions in 2019 was just four per cent each for Amazon and Google. The denial rate for Microsoft during the same period was six per cent, and Facebook along with Walmart was just three per cent each.

Djokovic fights to play Australian Open, Czech player also held

Djokovic fights to play Australian Open, Czech player also held

Rediff.com7 Jan 2022

Tennis World No. 1 Novak Djokovic spent Orthodox Christmas in Australian immigration detention on Friday as his lawyers fought a government decision to remove him from the country that could scupper his shot at a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam.

Yearend hope: UK 1st nation to okay Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine

Yearend hope: UK 1st nation to okay Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine

Rediff.com2 Dec 2020

The United Kingdom on Wednesday became the first country to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine against COVID-19, paving the way for mass vaccinations against the deadly novel coronavirus.

When a big nation is led by a small man

When a big nation is led by a small man

Rediff.com28 Nov 2017

'Presidents may come and go, but America will go on forever,' an American business leader tells Ambassador T P Sreenivasan in New York.

Delhi polls over, LPG prices hiked by Rs 144.5 -- and subsidy too

Delhi polls over, LPG prices hiked by Rs 144.5 -- and subsidy too

Rediff.com12 Feb 2020

LPG price was increased to Rs 858.50 per 14.2 kg cylinder from Rs 714 previously, according to a price notification from State-owned oil firms. This is the steepest hike in rates since January 2014, when prices had gone up by Rs 220 per cylinder to Rs 1,241.

I insisted Uddhav become CM: Pawar's snipe at Fadnavis

I insisted Uddhav become CM: Pawar's snipe at Fadnavis

Rediff.com16 Oct 2021

"I thought why not the son of a person who had contributed for Maharashtra should become the CM and I insisted Uddhav Thackeray to become the chief minister. Fadnavis had worked with Uddhav so he knows how Uddhav is. He should stop questioning repeatedly about how Uddhav became CM," the NCP chief said.

Heineken buys 14.98% more stake in UBL; shareholding now at 61.5%

Heineken buys 14.98% more stake in UBL; shareholding now at 61.5%

Rediff.com23 Jun 2021

Dutch brewing major Heineken on Wednesday said it has acquired an additional 14.98 per cent stake in United Breweries Ltd, taking its total shareholding to 61.50 per cent. "Heineken N.V. today (on Wednesday) announces that it has acquired an additional 39,644,346 ordinary shares in United Breweries Ltd (UBL) taking its shareholding in UBL from 46.5 per cent to 61.5 per cent," Heineken said in a statement. UBL, with its flagship brand 'Kingfisher', is the leading player in the beer market in India.

No lowering of EPF interest, remains at 8.65%

No lowering of EPF interest, remains at 8.65%

Rediff.com13 Apr 2017

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's apex decision making body, the Central Board of Trustees, had decided to provide 8.65 per cent rate of interest on EPF deposits last December.

'Once this wave peaks out, we expect India's growth story to come back'

'Once this wave peaks out, we expect India's growth story to come back'

Rediff.com14 Jun 2021

'While the country has been hit hard from a strong second wave of Covid, we believe the markets are willing to look through that.'

Power crisis: Lessons India can learn from China

Power crisis: Lessons India can learn from China

Rediff.com20 Oct 2021

China on Tuesday announced a major policy change for its crisis-ridden power sector by allowing coal-fired power plants to charge their industrial and commercial customers market-driven prices. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of China said the electricity generated by coal-fired plants would discover price in market trading "in an orderly manner" from October 15. This is being done to pass on the high costs of coal and is being held up as the boldest reform in the Chinese power sector.

Sikka finds place in Glassdoor's top 50 CEOs list

Sikka finds place in Glassdoor's top 50 CEOs list

Rediff.com11 Jun 2015

Sikka ranks 35th in the list.