All stories by Arnab Dutta
How Samsung plans to regain the top slot in India
Rediff.com14 Feb 2019After the government backtracked on its plan to impose Customs duty on pricier components, Samsung has decided to begin production of key mobile parts in Noida from April.
Coke eyes IPL
Rediff.com2 Feb 2019Coca-Cola will, apart from the coming World Cup in England and Wales, feature as the exclusive non-alcoholic beverage partner at all major ICC events -- men's and women's T20 World Cups in Australia in 2020, ICC Women's World Cup 2021 in New Zealand... Also, the World Cup 2023, to be hosted by India.
Why the Jio Phone rules the feature phone market
Rediff.com28 Jan 2019It has captured 38 per cent of the feature phone segment in 2018 through frequent innovation, says Arnab Dutta.
Patanjali rebuts charge of profiteering from lower GST rates
Rediff.com16 Jan 2019Anti-profiteering authority puts Baba Ramdev-led company in the dock for allegedly not passing on benefits received from the reduced rate of taxation under the GST regime. Patanjali to respond to notice at January 28 hearing.
10% quota in educational institutes 'herculean task'
Rediff.com16 Jan 2019'It seems to be a hasty step ahead of the election.'
India's handset industry may cross 300-mn mark, close in on China
Rediff.com10 Jan 2019According to analysts, most of the growth in the smartphone space will come from existing users, who will be lured to upgrade their handsets as new features and technologies turn existing features redundant, says Arnab Dutta.
Why is Coca-Cola doing this?
Rediff.com1 Jan 2019Twenty-five years on, Coca-Cola is involved in a new search. Arnab Dutta reports.
HUL vs Anti-profiteering Authority: What the battle is all about
Rediff.com27 Dec 2018This could be the first instance when a consumer goods company would move court against NAA. The confrontation began after the government cut tax rates on over 175 items like toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream and washing powder to 18 per cent from 28 per cent.
Post HUL deal, 4,000 GSK employees' fate in limbo
Rediff.com11 Dec 2018While a merger means HUL taking over GSK Consumer's assets, including its employees, any mention of retention of employees beyond the merger is missing in the deal.
Time to write an obituary for 2G and 2.5G feature phones?
Rediff.com23 Nov 2018The scales started tilting in favour of smartphones in 2014, when a slew of new, yet vibrant, brands entered the market, with their competitively priced offerings helping smartphones become the indispensable device that it has turned into today.
GST forces FMCG majors to reach out to Bharat directly
Rediff.com15 Nov 2018As wholesalers largely failed to meet GST norms, companies were in a fix. According to industry veterans like Sunil Duggal, chief executive of Dabur, the hazard led many to look beyond third-party distribution and take the leap to cover unattended markets directly.
After 2 years, Micromax returns to top 5 in smartphone sales
Rediff.com24 Oct 2018But this could be shortlived as the rise has been buoyed on Chhattisgarh assembly poll freebies
The truth about Made in India handsets
Rediff.com9 Oct 2018Industry estimates suggest that the extent of value addition in the handset space remains at a mere 10 per cent. That effectively means, value-wise 90 per cent of all components used in making a handset continues to be imported.
In 2019, salary hike in India may be among the highest in A-Pac
Rediff.com5 Oct 2018The estimated 10 per cent average hike in 2019 is at par with the actual rate of increase in the previous three calendar years in India
From Samsung to Vivo, all major smartphone cos are keen on Bharat
Rediff.com3 Oct 2018As 4G internet completes coverage of the entire country, rural markets have become the primary generator of sales.
Can Kurkure twist Indian snack market to Pepsi's advantage?
Rediff.com30 Sep 2018PepsiCo is now betting aggressively on Kurkure, as its offering goes more and more local in its branded snacks.
Will iPhone XR manage to revive Apple's fortune in India?
Rediff.com14 Sep 2018Costlier offers, high import duties and a realignment of its business and distribution continue to dent iPhone sales in India in 2018
How Samsung plans to recoup marketshare in India
Rediff.com31 Aug 2018Samsung is betting on core capabilities like R&D to stay prepared for the new wave of technologies like 5G and IoT (internet of things).
FMCG grows at 10.9% in June quarter, lower than 14% in 2017: Nielsen
Rediff.com29 Aug 2018Growth numbers for the large players in the sector, though, improved during the quarter.