Rachel Chitra

Bangalore

Eternal optimist, mom, journo @Forbes_MENA_ @risj_oxford @TimesofIndia @ReutersIndia @NewIndianXpress Love Jack London, Heyer, Saki; Heroes Snowden, Assange

Articles

Trump has paused tariffs, but Indian farm sector remains on edge

1 week ago | thefederal.com | Rachel Chitra

While the world debates Trump tariffs, with a trade war appearing be just one tweet away, India’s agricultural sector stands at a delicate crossroads. Heavily reliant on the monsoon, volatile crop yields and unpredictable demand from both domestic and international buyers, its future seems shaped by uncertainty. The Donald Trump administration initially targeted Indian agricultural imports with a proposed 26 per cent tariff, and then paused the move.
Capex, job creation crucial to sustain long-term growth: IDFC FIRST Bank chief economist

2 weeks ago | thefederal.com | Vijay Srinivas |Rachel Chitra

While acknowledging external challenges, such as global tariffs and slowing growth, Sen Gupta stresses the critical need for structural reforms in agriculture and capital expenditure to sustain long-term economic growth. In an exclusive interview with The Federal , IDFC FIRST Bank chief economist Gaura Sen Gupta delves into the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) recent policy shift, which saw the key interest rate reduced to 6 per cent and the stance changed to accommodative.
RBI cuts repo rate again: Signal for growth amid global headwinds

2 weeks ago | thefederal.com | Rachel Chitra

In a move signalling a pivot towards a more supportive monetary policy, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday (April 9) announced a 25 basis point cut in the repo rate, bringing it down to 6 per cent. This marks the second rate cut in the current cycle and a decisive shift to an accommodative stance, underscoring the Central Bank’s intent to prioritise growth amid emerging global uncertainties.
Indian markets rebound sharply after historic downturn; IT leads the charge

2 weeks ago | thefederal.com | Rachel Chitra

The Indian equity markets staged a powerful recovery on Tuesday (April 8), rebounding from the steep losses suffered a day earlier. The benchmark indices opened higher, buoyed by optimistic cues from Asian markets and opportunistic buying at lower valuations. The Sensex jumped 1,200 points (1.63 per cent) to trade at 74,327.37, while the Nifty 50 surged 371 points (1.67 per cent) to 22,532.30 in early trading.
Trump tariff tremors leave Sensex, Nifty shuddering with global peers

2 weeks ago | thefederal.com | Rachel Chitra

April 7 turned out to be a Black Monday for Indian equity markets as benchmark indices plunged sharply, wiping out investor wealth worth over ₹16 lakh-crore in a matter of hours. The carnage was driven by escalating global trade tensions and fears of a looming recession in the US, triggered by American President Donald Trump's sweeping tariff hikes.
TN's electronics sector powers up with PLI while textiles fray at edges

2 weeks ago | thefederal.com | Rachel Chitra

Tamil Nadu has long been a leader in manufacturing, but its rise as an electronics powerhouse in recent years has been nothing short of remarkable. Thanks to the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) 1.0 scheme, the state's electronics exports skyrocketed from $1.6 billion in FY21 to $11 billion in FY24—a staggering seven-fold increase.
Trump's tariffs on India could spell trouble for automakers, may help Chennai

3 weeks ago | thefederal.com | Rachel Chitra

India’s auto sector is bracing itself for an impact as US President Donald Trump’s Trump Reciprocal Trade Act (TRTA) imposes new tariffs that could redefine trade. The 27 per cent reciprocal tariffs could spell trouble for automakers like Tata Motors and its luxury arm Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), while Indian auto components manufacturers such as Bharat Forge and Motherson Group may emerge as unexpected beneficiaries. This comes at a time when global supply chains are already in flux.
Products beyond insurance, composite licence being mulled in sector revamp

1 month ago | thefederal.com | Rachel Chitra

The insurance industry is currently exploring new ways to make insurance engaging for common people. Among the proposals currently under review is one where your insurance company may not just be selling you insurance, but also fitness wearables, wellness programmes and telematics devices, according to sources. And even when it comes to selling insurance, there could be a sea change, with the likes of LIC probably being able to offer health and personal accident policies.
Sistem dari Singapura Bantu India dan Indonesia Uji Coba Solusi Fintech

Oct 4, 2023 | id.techinasia.com | Rachel Chitra

Ketika membahas tentang transaksi real-time, India adalah pemimpinnya. Negara ini menyumbang 46 persen dari seluruh transaksi real-time di seluruh dunia pada 2022. Transaksi ini ditangani oleh sistem andalan India, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), yang memproses 74 miliar transaksi senilai US$1,5 triliun (Rp23 kuadriliun) selama 2022.
MapmyIndia’s shares outperform Indian tech peers, but battle with Google looms

Sep 24, 2023 | techinasia.com | Rachel Chitra

In India, the divide between the rich and poor is perhaps best visualized by the Antilia, a 40,000 square foot building in Mumbai that is the home of Mukesh Ambani, one of the country’s richest people. Mumbai also houses Dharavi, which is said to be one of the world’s largest slums. Catering to such a wide-ranging demographic is a challenge that unicorn MapmyIndia – which provides digital maps, geospatial software, and location-based IoT tech – can handle better than Google Maps can.