News for 'consumers'

Higher input costs, price hikes may play spoilsport for HUL

Higher input costs, price hikes may play spoilsport for HUL

Rediff.com12 May 2026

Hindustan Unilever (HUL) exceeded consensus estimates in Q4FY26, driven by lower overheads and 6 per cent consolidated volume growth. However, the company anticipates further price hikes to counter an expected 8-10 per cent material cost inflation, while maintaining a mid-term margin guidance of 22.5-23.5 per cent.

'Impact of the spike in energy prices will be transient'

'Impact of the spike in energy prices will be transient'

Rediff.com29 Apr 2026

'As re-industrialisation gathers pace across regions like Asia, Europe and the US, a wide range of products and inputs will see demand.'

Electric Motorcycles Gain Traction, But Scaling Remains A Challenge

Electric Motorcycles Gain Traction, But Scaling Remains A Challenge

Rediff.com27 Apr 2026

India's electric motorcycle market is experiencing significant growth, with a 28 per cent year-on-year increase in volumes, as new product launches and improved total cost of ownership attract a broader base of riders beyond early adopters.

Why India's Next Wave Of Startups Should Focus On Deep Tech

Why India's Next Wave Of Startups Should Focus On Deep Tech

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan urges Indian startups to focus on deep technology and advanced manufacturing to ensure strategic autonomy.

Theatre Commands Plan Gains Momentum

Theatre Commands Plan Gains Momentum

Rediff.com5 May 2026

The plan includes three such formations: A China-focused Northern Theatre Command, a Pakistan-focused Western Theatre Command, and a Maritime Theatre Command.

How Paytm's Separation From PPBL Secured Its Future

How Paytm's Separation From PPBL Secured Its Future

Rediff.com29 Apr 2026

Following regulatory action against Paytm Payments Bank Ltd (PPBL), Paytm strategically separated its core operations, a move praised by analysts for preserving business continuity and governance. This separation has enabled Paytm to sustain growth and improve profitability.

Arrest Made In Mumbai Concert Drug Overdose Case

Arrest Made In Mumbai Concert Drug Overdose Case

Rediff.com17 Apr 2026

A man has been arrested in connection with the death of two people due to suspected drug overdose at a concert in Mumbai. The accused allegedly supplied drugs at the venue.

Kerala Man Murdered After Drunken Fight With Friend

Kerala Man Murdered After Drunken Fight With Friend

Rediff.com19 Apr 2026

A 33-year-old man in Kerala was allegedly murdered after a drunken brawl with his friend. Police have arrested the friend in connection with the incident.

Why Gold Loan Boom Needs Caution

Why Gold Loan Boom Needs Caution

Rediff.com11 May 2026

Rapid growth in personal gold loans has raised concerns over borrower leverage, large-ticket exposure and volatility in gold prices, points out Swaminathan J, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India.

How Mizoram Police Rescued Women From Trafficking Racket

How Mizoram Police Rescued Women From Trafficking Racket

Rediff.com7 May 2026

Mizoram police, in collaboration with Uttarakhand police, rescued five Mizo women, including two minors, from a sex trafficking racket operating under the guise of a spa in Rudrapur. Six individuals have been arrested, including the alleged mastermind and spa owner.

Shares of life insurers dip as DFS calls for end to exclusive bank tie-ups

Shares of life insurers dip as DFS calls for end to exclusive bank tie-ups

Rediff.com22 Apr 2026

Shares of Indian life insurance companies, particularly SBI Life Insurance and Canara HSBC Life Insurance, saw significant declines after the Department of Financial Services (DFS) secretary, M Nagaraju, stated that banks are being asked to avoid exclusive tie-ups with their own insurance subsidiaries and instead remain neutral.

Man Arrested For Shooting Boy Who Refused To Fetch Water

Man Arrested For Shooting Boy Who Refused To Fetch Water

Rediff.com2 May 2026

A man has been arrested for allegedly shooting a nine-year-old boy dead after he refused to bring water for mixing with alcohol during a naming ceremony in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district, police said on Saturday.

OMCs selling petrol at Rs 14 a litre loss, diesel at Rs 18/litre

OMCs selling petrol at Rs 14 a litre loss, diesel at Rs 18/litre

Rediff.com29 Apr 2026

Indian oil marketing companies are incurring significant losses, selling petrol at a Rs 14 per litre loss and diesel at Rs 18 per litre, as elevated global crude oil prices, exacerbated by the West Asia crisis, outpace capped retail fuel rates, according to rating agency Icra.

How Krutrim Became India's First AI Unicorn

How Krutrim Became India's First AI Unicorn

Rediff.com5 May 2026

Krutrim, India's first AI unicorn, has successfully repositioned itself as a focused domestic AI Cloud Services provider, reporting its first annual net profit in FY26.

India Inc's FY27 earnings forecast cut amid Iran war

India Inc's FY27 earnings forecast cut amid Iran war

Rediff.com28 Apr 2026

Analysts are revising down India Inc's financial year 2026-27 (FY27) earnings growth forecasts, citing persistently high crude oil prices above $100 a barrel due to the West Asia conflict, which is expected to dent corporate financial performance in the coming quarters.

Nine-Year-Old Girl Mauled To Death By Stray Dogs In Bundi

Nine-Year-Old Girl Mauled To Death By Stray Dogs In Bundi

Rediff.com5 May 2026

A nine-year-old girl was fatally attacked by stray dogs in Rajasthan's Bundi district while going to the fields near her village. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited the family and provided compensation, while directing authorities to take preventive measures.

CM Vijay promises to be the only power centre in Tamil Nadu

CM Vijay promises to be the only power centre in Tamil Nadu

Rediff.com10 May 2026

C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, marking the first non-DMK, non-AIADMK government in the state in 60 years. The ceremony was attended by Rahul Gandhi, and Vijay promised transparent governance and asserted his sole authority. He signed files to implement key promises, including free power for domestic consumers.

Fuel price hike on cards? Puri says oil companies are losing Rs 1,000 cr a day

Fuel price hike on cards? Puri says oil companies are losing Rs 1,000 cr a day

Rediff.com12 May 2026

India possesses two months of fuel stockpiles and faces no supply concerns despite global energy disruptions, according to Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. However, state-run fuel retailers are incurring losses of up to Rs 1 lakh crore in a single quarter due to elevated crude prices and unchanged retail fuel prices, raising questions about the sustainability of these losses.

Nine-Year-Old Girl Mauled To Death By Stray Dogs In Bundi

Nine-Year-Old Girl Mauled To Death By Stray Dogs In Bundi

Rediff.com5 May 2026

A nine-year-old girl was fatally attacked by stray dogs in Rajasthan's Bundi district while defecating in a field. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla visited the family and provided compensation, while directing authorities to take preventive measures.

UP Police Find Mother's Body After Children's Murder

UP Police Find Mother's Body After Children's Murder

Rediff.com3 May 2026

Police in Uttar Pradesh discovered the body of a woman in a drain, who was the mother of four children found murdered in their home. The investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Gulf War Crisis: Why India Will Take A Huge Hit

Gulf War Crisis: Why India Will Take A Huge Hit

Rediff.com11 May 2026

This is the time for India to plan forward fully, with the goal of Atmanirbharata, and energy security. The Persian Gulf is no longer a reliable source, points out Rajeev Srinivasan.

Dridam Review: Average Thriller With Shock Ending

Dridam Review: Average Thriller With Shock Ending

Rediff.com9 May 2026

Dridam starts well as this intriguing small-town investigative thriller worthy of the Jeethu Joseph school of suspense, only to trip over clumsy red herrings and over-explanations, observes Sreeju Sudhakaran.

Mumbai Police Arrest Key Supplier In Drug Overdose Deaths

Mumbai Police Arrest Key Supplier In Drug Overdose Deaths

Rediff.com18 Apr 2026

Mumbai police have arrested a key supplier in connection with the deaths of two MBA students from suspected drug overdose at a concert in Goregaon. The arrest brings the total number of people in custody to nine as the investigation continues.

Why mixed-use developments are the future of Indian real estate

Why mixed-use developments are the future of Indian real estate

Rediff.com20 Apr 2026

Mixed-use real estate projects, integrating residential, commercial, retail, and hospitality segments, are gaining significant traction in India as developers seek to maximise returns, optimise land use, and diversify cash flows, with experts predicting 35-40% of urban real estate supply will be mixed-use by 2030.

FMCG firms weigh price hikes as input costs rise

FMCG firms weigh price hikes as input costs rise

Rediff.com6 Apr 2026

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies are closely monitoring crude oil prices and considering low single-digit price increases, while consumer durables firms have already begun passing on significant price hikes to consumers due to rising input costs exacerbated by the West Asia conflict.

Smartphone Prices Set for Sharp Surge

Smartphone Prices Set for Sharp Surge

Rediff.com21 Apr 2026

Manufacturers are planning a hike of over 15 per cent in the second quarter of calendar year 2026, as memory prices shoot through the roof.

'Biggest Single Danger Is If Remittances Come Down'

'Biggest Single Danger Is If Remittances Come Down'

Rediff.com13 May 2026

'At the first sign of real trouble, that money will move. There will be a run.'

Mamata, her 21 ministers swept out in massive anti-incumbency wave

Mamata, her 21 ministers swept out in massive anti-incumbency wave

Rediff.com5 May 2026

The Trinamool Congress government's massive defeat in West Bengal shows "deep anti-incumbency and unpopularity" as out of 35 ministers who contested the assembly elections, 22 have been defeated, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her constituency.

Chandrapur Farmers Hospitalised After Poisoning Themselves in Land Dispute

Chandrapur Farmers Hospitalised After Poisoning Themselves in Land Dispute

Rediff.com13 Apr 2026

Five tribal farmers in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, consumed poison to protest inadequate compensation for land acquired by a cement company. They are hospitalised and in stable condition as authorities investigate their claims.

Why Did Teenager End Her Life After Exam Results?

Why Did Teenager End Her Life After Exam Results?

Rediff.com17 Apr 2026

A Class XII student in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, allegedly committed suicide after being disappointed with her exam results. The 18-year-old consumed poison and died during treatment. Police are investigating the incident.

LTM to introduce 'Blueverse Credit' AI-linked pricing model in FY27

LTM to introduce 'Blueverse Credit' AI-linked pricing model in FY27

Rediff.com4 May 2026

IT services major LTM is set to introduce a new pricing framework, 'Blueverse Credit', in the first quarter of FY27, aiming to align monetisation with the growing adoption of agentic artificial intelligence.

Mohammad Nawaz denies intentional doping after positive test during T20 World Cup

Mohammad Nawaz denies intentional doping after positive test during T20 World Cup

Rediff.com23 Apr 2026

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz has responded to the ICC and PCB regarding his positive dope test during the T20 World Cup, denying intentional use of banned substances.

Dehydrated At Work? Blame Your Office AC!

Dehydrated At Work? Blame Your Office AC!

Rediff.com6 May 2026

While being in an air-conditioned room can make you feel pleasant and comfortable, it also has its disadvantages, says Dr Manjusha Agarwal, consultant-internal medicine at Gleneagles Hospital, Mumbai.

Pirojsha Godrej: 'Godrej Aims To Become Rs 5 Trillion Market-Cap Group In 5 Years'

Pirojsha Godrej: 'Godrej Aims To Become Rs 5 Trillion Market-Cap Group In 5 Years'

Rediff.com8 May 2026

'We are targeting a 2.5x to 3x increase in valuation by FY31.'

Nashik TCS case: 'They forced me to wear skullcap, perform namaaz'

Nashik TCS case: 'They forced me to wear skullcap, perform namaaz'

Rediff.com25 Apr 2026

Four TCS employees have been arrested for allegedly sexually harassing and attempting to forcibly convert a colleague, including forcing him to wear a Muslim cap and perform Namaz.

Daadi Ki Shaadi Review: Outdated Family Entertainer

Daadi Ki Shaadi Review: Outdated Family Entertainer

Rediff.com8 May 2026

Ashish R Mohan's Daadi Ki Shaadi, starring Neetu Singh and Kapil Sharma, offers an outdated plot that fails to deliver on humour or emotional depth.

Mumbai family deaths: No watermelon vendor found in the area

Mumbai family deaths: No watermelon vendor found in the area

Rediff.com30 Apr 2026

Authorities in Mumbai are investigating the deaths of four family members after they consumed watermelon, with efforts underway to locate the source of the fruit.

S&P: India to maintain robust 6.3% growth even with $130/barrel crude

S&P: India to maintain robust 6.3% growth even with $130/barrel crude

Rediff.com16 Apr 2026

S&P Global Ratings projects India's economy to grow at 6.3 per cent even if crude oil prices average USD 130 per barrel in the current fiscal year, highlighting the nation's resilience amidst the West Asia crisis and strong commitment to fiscal consolidation.

Kerala Verdict: Left's Worst Defeat

Kerala Verdict: Left's Worst Defeat

Rediff.com5 May 2026

'What we are witnessing is a massive anti-incumbency wave that has cut across all social and political divides.'

UP Man Ends Life After Suspected Pakistan Honey Trap

UP Man Ends Life After Suspected Pakistan Honey Trap

Rediff.com17 Apr 2026

A 27-year-old man in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district allegedly died by suicide after consuming poison. His family claims he was blackmailed from a Pakistan-based phone number after being lured into a suspected honey trap.