Parvathi Benu

Chennai, Kochi

Journalist | Data, Politics, books | Ex @Morningcontext @businessline @newindianexpress | @statedept alumna | Lymphoma Survivor

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Articles

Turf wars expose the Make-in-India mirage of Indian drone companies

4 days ago | the-captable.com | Pratap Vikram Singh |Parvathi Benu

Key Takeaways India’s Rs 1,700-crore drone sector relies heavily on Chinese components despite a 2022 import ban Policy loopholes, weak enforcement, and white-labelling have allowed companies to bypass localisation rules Allegations between major players, including IdeaForge and Garuda, reveal industry infighting and opaque practices With defence and agriculture ministries pushing for indigenisation frameworks, drone makers face mounting pressure to localise On April 17, Tej Pratap Singh, who...
WayCool Foods faces NCLT heat amidst mounting debt and auditor resignation

3 weeks ago | the-captable.com | Parvathi Benu

April could be the beginning of the end for WayCool Foods, the agritech firm once tipped to be India’s first agritech unicorn. On April 28, the National Company Law Tribunal’s (NCLT) Chennai bench will hear three separate petitions against the company. One of these petitions has been filed by Vinod Dasari, a director in the company, while a second has been filed by agri fintech startup Kushal Finnovation Capital Pvt Ltd.
As median salaries fall for Class of 2024, is engineering losing it sheen?

1 month ago | the-captable.com | Parvathi Benu

Key TakeawaysMany engineering graduates, including from top colleges like the IITs, are seeing a reduction in median salaries, with a significant dip in compensation packages for the 2024 batchOverhiring during the recovery phase and the learning loss due to the pandemic have contributed to a tougher job market for fresh graduatesEmployers are increasingly prioritising soft skills alongside technical expertise.
India's rising innovation ranking masks critical R&D collaboration gap

1 month ago | the-captable.com | Parvathi Benu

Key Takeaways India improved its Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking to 39th in 2024, but its academia-industry R&D collaboration ranking plummeted to 86th A lack of funding—with just 0.6% of GDP spent on R&D (compared to 3.5% in the USA and 5.4% in Israel)—and misaligned research priorities of academia and industry are key reasons for this Government funding for academia-industry partnership programs has also dried up, removing critical financial incentives for tie-ups IIT Madras Research...
Double trouble: As India’s household debt peaks, savings shrink

2 months ago | the-captable.com | Parvathi Benu

Key TakeawaysHousehold liabilities in India have hit a six-year high at 41% of GDP in FY24, while savings have plummeted to 18.4% of GDPPersonal loans surged 12% year-on-year between December 2023-24.
Which is India’s best B-school?

2 months ago | the-captable.com | Parvathi Benu

In today's hypercompetitive business landscape, an MBA has emerged as more than just another degree. It has become something of a master key, capable of unlocking greater career opportunities if not the door to the C-suite itself. It isn’t just an MBA that matters, though. Where that MBA is from is every bit as important. Earlier this week, the Financial Times (FT) released its rankings for the top 100 business schools, or B-schools, from around the world.
Layoffs, fake invoices and mounting debt: Can WayCool bounce back?

2 months ago | the-captable.com | Parvathi Benu

Key TakeawaysWayCool Foods was once touted as India's first agritech unicorn. But layoffs, cash crunch, and debt issues have derailed its journey. Former employees, vendors, and traders have accused the company of unpaid dues and fake invoices. The company had 2,300 employees in 2022. Now, only 533 remain. Many were let go without pending salaries cleared. WayCool no longer calls itself an agritech firm. It now aims for profitability, shutting warehouses and raising debt to survive.
New vs old: Who benefits out of the new Income Tax announcement?

2 months ago | yourstory.com | Parvathi Benu

The last part of the Union Budget 2025 was something that the salaried class waited for—an Income Tax relief that exempts people who earn up to Rs 12.75 lakh per annum from paying any income tax from the upcoming fiscal. While this was cheered on by many, it looks like the new rates under the new tax regime may not be for everyone. “There will be no income tax payable up to an income of Rs 12 lakh under the new regime,” Sitharaman said.
Cheer for the middle class as FM announces new tax reforms; benefits for incomes up to ₹12 LPA

2 months ago | yourstory.com | Parvathi Benu

There’s finally something to cheer for India’s vast middle class. In an effort to boost consumption and reduce the salaried population’s tax burden, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a slew of new tax reforms in the FY26 Union Budget presented today. In one of the most notable changes, those earning up to Rs 12 lakh per annum (LPA) need not pay any income tax under the new tax regime from the next financial year (FY26).
With Rs 1,00,000 crore revenue lost to 80C, is the old tax regime on its way out?

2 months ago | the-captable.com | Parvathi Benu

Key Takeaways In FY23, the Government of India is projected to have foregone a little over Rs 1 lakh crore due to deductions claimed under section 80C However, the lifespan of 80C and other deductions could be short, with speculation rife that the old tax regime will be phased out In AY25, more than 70% of taxpayers opted for the new tax regime Experts believe that this could be beneficial for the government and a majority of low- and middle-income taxpayers in the long run For one...