Somesh Jha

Stories by Somesh Jha

Garg leaves without signing off on Jalan panel report

Garg leaves without signing off on Jalan panel report

Rediff.com   26 Jul 2019

Garg had refused to sign on the report finalised by the former Reserve Bank of India governor Bimal Jalan-led committee reviewing the central bank's economic capital framework (ECF).

To ease compliance, govt plans major labour reforms

To ease compliance, govt plans major labour reforms

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2019

Single registration will be coupled with single licence, along with a single return, for executing projects for five years.

Govt to extend minimum wages to 100% of workforce

Govt to extend minimum wages to 100% of workforce

Rediff.com   24 Jul 2019

Under the New Code on Wages Bill 2019, employers will be required to give the minimum wages, notified by either the state or the Centre, to the unorganised sector, too.

Banks likely to freeze accounts of shell firms

Banks likely to freeze accounts of shell firms

Rediff.com   11 Jul 2019

Government suspects that many of these bank accounts were used to launder money, especially after the demonetisation in November 2016.

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: How govt plans to tackle India's water woes

Jal Shakti Abhiyan: How govt plans to tackle India's water woes

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2019

The aim of the programme is to increase the water table in the stressed areas through dams, ponds, and afforestation. According to a NITI Aayog study, by 2030, the country's water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, implying severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people and an eventual 6 per cent loss in the country's GDP.

Will Modi govt manage to push labour reforms this time?

Will Modi govt manage to push labour reforms this time?

Rediff.com   26 Jun 2019

After assuming power in 2014 with a full majority of its own, the BJP-led NDA government started an ambitious process of reforming labour laws in the form of codes aimed at making the framework less cumbersome with a variety of alterations. It had planned four codes each for industrial relations, wages, social security and welfare, and occupational safety, health and working conditions. To this end, 35 central labour laws were to be converted into four codes that would have had the virtue of streamlining labour relations. But none of the proposed code Bills could be converted into a law principally because neither trade unions nor industry representatives came on board. They hold the key to India's low-growth-high unemployment paradigm but the government may struggle to push them through this time as well. Somesh Jha explains why

RBI's new stressed asset resolution is 'practical'

RBI's new stressed asset resolution is 'practical'

Rediff.com   17 Jun 2019

'If there is a technical issue and the borrowers can resolve it within 30 days, you don't have to go through the bankruptcy court.' 'If the borrower is expecting a large disbursal of a facility or expecting a payment or receivables, in such cases it becomes practical to give a window for taking care of such circumstances. 'If banks had aggregated the assets and benefited with a long relationship with borrowers and now when assets get into a trouble, it is incumbent on banks to find resolution and take responsibility.'

An insurance plan that will benefit both employers and employees

An insurance plan that will benefit both employers and employees

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2019

The scheme, which will be effective from July 1, 2019 would benefit 36 million employees and 1.28 million employers. The ESI Act applies to factories with 10 or more workers and provides for medical, cash, maternity, disability and dependent benefits to employees drawing a salary of up to Rs 21,000 per month.

On the govt's table: PSU general insurance consolidation

On the govt's table: PSU general insurance consolidation

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2019

'The plan is to secure nod of the Union Cabinet and other relevant regulatory approvals within the next three months,' a senior finance ministry official said, requesting anonymity.

'This time, it is about making Modi win'

'This time, it is about making Modi win'

Rediff.com   30 Apr 2019

'He has attacked our enemies in their own backyard.'

Unemployment rises across religions, social groups

Unemployment rises across religions, social groups

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2019

The problem of unemployment is spread across the economy.

Another shocking jobs data revealed!

Another shocking jobs data revealed!

Rediff.com   11 Feb 2019

According to NSSO, more than half of India's working-age population is out of labour force. In 2017-18, the youth unemployment rate was in the range 13.6-27.2 per cent.

2 members of National Statistical Commission quit over jobs data report

2 members of National Statistical Commission quit over jobs data report

Rediff.com   30 Jan 2019

With the two members quitting, the NSC now has only two members -- Chief Statistician Pravin Srivastava and NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant.

Now job opportunities abroad under govt initiative

Now job opportunities abroad under govt initiative

Rediff.com   29 Jan 2019

A fresh global skill gap study shows how India can tap opportunities in Germany, New Zealand, Qatar, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE and the UK.

New 'secrets' emerge in PNB scam

New 'secrets' emerge in PNB scam

Rediff.com   28 Jan 2019

FinMin finally sacked executive directors K V Brahmaji Rao and Sanjiv Sharan on January 18. The bank's board, however, had felt they had no criminal intent and it was a case of 'casual oversight'

Should we scrap quarterly job surveys?

Should we scrap quarterly job surveys?

Rediff.com   16 Jan 2019

A government panel examined the records of employees surveyed by Labour Bureau's quarterly enterprises surveys and mapped it with the EPFO's subscribers and found "unexplained variations" between the two.

These two ministries are clashing over paid maternity leave

These two ministries are clashing over paid maternity leave

Rediff.com   31 Dec 2018

After complaints that the new law may impact employment of women, the government has framed a scheme to provide monetary incentive to companies, reports Somesh Jha.

BoB-Dena-Vijaya Bank merger: What it means for their customers

BoB-Dena-Vijaya Bank merger: What it means for their customers

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2018

The combined entity is set to be the third largest bank in India, behind State Bank of India and ICICI Bank.

Is RSS union trying to split India's trade unions?

Is RSS union trying to split India's trade unions?

Rediff.com   21 Dec 2018

BMS allies with breakaway faction of Congress-affiliated INTUC. This marks a new chapter in India's trade union movement

Shaktikanta Das impresses first RBI board meeting

Shaktikanta Das impresses first RBI board meeting

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2018

'His (Das) approach to work seems that of working as a team with ease in communication.'