The very fact that it took more than 70 years post-independence for electricity to reach every village speaks volumes about the mess the sector has been in. Forget villages, even metro cities, and most state capitals still have to face load shedding. The entire problem in the power sector can be summed up in three words – vote bank politics.Politicians of all stripes have refrained from increasing tariff for fear of upsetting their vote banks. Besides this, blatant theft of power, at times under the patronage of political parties, is at the root cause of the problems in the power sector.Many schemes launched by various governments failed to achieve their desired goal because none of them dared to go anywhere close to the root cause. Ultimately it was the taxpayer who had to foot the bill of the huge bailouts.Close This, however, changed in November 2015 when the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (UDAY) scheme for reviving the discoms was launched in November 2015. At the time of … [Read more...] about Opinion | UDAY Scheme: It’s high time state governments said ‘let there be light’
Fargo moorhead holiday lights parade
5 Things that resonate Kerala
Whether you have visited Kerala or not, almost everyone is aware about how magnificent “Gods own country” is. Kerala, is now known as one of the best holiday destinations in India. Its eminence got me thinking about what are the things that actually made this place so famous and memorable. The Moustache MadnessClose Jade D’SaFood & Travel blogger Grab a beer in beer nationChristmas traditions in Norway10 things to eat in PortugalIf a state has to choose a symbol that stands for itself, Kerala will without a doubt choose “Moustache” as its icon. The “Wrap Around”No we aren’t talking about the wrap around skirts here the Lungis that Mallu’s love. And it’s not just any Lungi, but a pure white Veshti with broad golden border that reminds us of Kerala. Close to God:If you fail to notice a temple, church or mosque within 5 kms of your vicinity, then you have probably landed in a different state and not in Kerala. … [Read more...] about 5 Things that resonate Kerala
Rising cost of Chinese raw materials eat into margins of Indian pharma companies
Indian drug makers are staring at diminishing margins as raw material imports from China has increased while drug prices have stagnated. The cost of raw materials sourced from China has risen after Chinese government started cracking down on facilities that violate the country’s pollution control norms.Many production units have been mothballed till the required clearances are clinched. This has resulted in a drop in production, which has consequently led to price inflation. India is one of the largest markets for pharmaceuticals, but production of drugs is usually undertaken with imported raw materials and intermediaries.The pricing pressure on imports is hurting domestic manufacturers. Costly imports from China has led to an about 3 percent decline in Q1 FY19 margin for Laurus Labs, reports Business Line. Lack of an indigenous ecosystem for the extraction and processing of minerals, among other raw materials used in pharmaceuticals, could leave the sector vulnerable to … [Read more...] about Rising cost of Chinese raw materials eat into margins of Indian pharma companies
Domestic steel manufacturers to raise prices over increased input costs
In light of the depreciation of the rupee’s valuation, domestic steel manufacturers are on course to hike prices from September to offset the rising cost of imported raw materials. This increase will also bridge the gap between the price of steel in domestic and international markets. On an average, the price of Indian steel is 5-8 percent less than what it is abroad. Consequently, domestic manufacturers may also lose their pricing advantage while exporting.Logistics costs at steelmakers have risen on account of the higher cost of importing raw materials such as coking coal and other fuels. Jayant Acharya, director of commercial and marketing at JSW Steel told the Economic Times that his firm would start raising prices over the next couple of months. The hike will be reflected in long-term and quarterly contracts with the automobile sector that will be effective from October.On a year-on-year basis, the price of stoking coal, a key component in the manufacture of steel, has … [Read more...] about Domestic steel manufacturers to raise prices over increased input costs
Congressional panel ask Google, Apple if apps like TikTok disclose non-US ties
The chair of a United States congressional panel wrote to Alphabet's Google and to Apple on December 13 to ask if any disclosures mobile apps are required to make regarding overseas ties, a concern that follows reports of Chinese investment in popular apps such as TikTok and Grindr.Rep. Stephen Lynch, chairman of a subcommittee of the House of Representatives Oversight Committee, said in a statement that he had asked both Google and Apple to tell Congress whether they required app developers to disclose any non-US ties.Concerns over China acquiring sensitive data about US citizens through social media apps is one of several sore areas in relations between the US and China even as President Donald Trump's trade war with China fans suspicion between the world's two largest economies.Close TikTok, which is wildly popular with teenagers, is owned by Chinese technology company ByteDance. In a related matter, the Chinese gaming company Beijing Kunlun Tech has said it would sell popular … [Read more...] about Congressional panel ask Google, Apple if apps like TikTok disclose non-US ties
