EXCISE AND CUSTOMS
Customs, Central Excise study
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Customs and Central Excise is undertaking a month-long countrywide `street-by-street' survey for tracking unregistered taxable service providers as also those who default on service tax payment despite being registered. ... More

FOREIGN TRADE
`Trade with SAARC nations up 75 pc'
THE country's trade with SAARC nations has grown by 75 per cent in rupee terms during 2003-04 compared to the previous fiscal, according to a PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) study. "It is a good turning point for India to ... More

PM calls for scale-down of tariffs to ASEAN levels
INDIA will have to scale down its tariffs to the levels prevalent in ASEAN countries to facilitate closer co-operation and boost trade ties with the economies of that region as well as of East Asia, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has ... More

India, Pak must focus on trade ties: Kamal Nath
THE bilateral trade between India and Pakistan could be stepped up to $5 billion in two years if there was free trade and the existing trade barriers between them were removed, the Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Mr Kamal Nath, said ... More

HEALTH
Ministry amends Drugs Act to monitor clinical studies
The Act will also incorporate penalty in terms of withdrawal of permission to market a drug if the rules are not adhered to. More

INFRASTRUCTURE
`Funds allotted for Nanguneri project'
A BHOOMI PUJA was performed on Monday at the proposed site for industrial estate at Nanguneri in Tirunelveli district. According to the site engineer, Mr V. Muthukrishnan of the US-based project partner, Advanced Technology Manufacturing and ... More

`Infrastructure sector yet to enter boom phase'
"THOUGH the infrastructure sector in the country is witnessing an increased activity now, we have not yet entered the boom phase," according to Mr Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Construction Company Ltd (HCC). ... More

POWER
Govt assures full autonomy to power regulatory panels
THE Power Minister, Mr P.M. Sayeed, assured full autonomy to Electricity Regulatory Commissions and said he would talk to State Governments for providing administrative and infrastructure support to the regulatory institutions. Mr Sayeed was ... More

STEEL
ISA plans umbrella body for entire steel industry — US, Japan models proposed
IT would be a restructuring of the domestic steel industry, but of a different sort. For all practical considerations, it may be termed as a restructuring and realignment of the various lobbying forces of the Indian steel industry, a model ... More

MMTC may pump Rs 500 cr in Neelachal
IN view of the fact that the Union Government has not shown much interest in roping in a strategic partner with a controlling stake in Neelachal Ispat Nigam Ltd (NINL) through the open bidding route, MMTC Ltd is said to be getting ready to carry ... More

SSI
`SMEs unable to exploit scope of globalisation'
THE Minister for Small-Scale Industry and Agro Rural Industries (SSI &ARI), Mr Mahabir Prasad, on Tuesday said that the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in most countries were unable to fully harness opportunities created by globalisation due More

WATER
Govt plans scheme for desalination plants in coastal areas
THE Government is planning to introduce a new Centrally sponsored scheme to set up desalination plants for drinking water supply in coastal urban areas of the country, as envisaged in the National Common Minimum Programme (NCMP). A proposal ... More

RADIO/TV
Vizag cable operators justify hike in rental
THE State Consumer Forum has stayed the order passed by the Visakhapatnam District Consumer Forum on October 28 that the rental collected by cable operators from subscribers in the city should not exceed Rs 150 per month. The case has been posted ... More

EDUCATION
India holds promise for US varsities
EVERY research university in the US today is grappling with one big question: What does it take to be a global university? While there are no ready answers to this, what is certain is that India and China feature prominently in the global ... More

GEMS & JEWELLERY
Making hay...
People queuing up at a bullion dealer's shop in Mumbai to sell gold in order to take advantage of the current high prices. Gold prices in the international market soared to $448 an ounce, while it increased to Rs 6,655 for 10 gm in the domestic ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
AP industrialist bids highest for Standard Motors land, assets
AN Andhra Pradesh-based industrialist, with interests in cotton seeds, spinning mills and sugar, has bid the highest for the property of Standard Motor Products of India Ltd (now in liquidation), located at Perungalathur on the outskirts of ... More

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

EVENTS
Global exhibition on mining equipment
THE 7th International Mining & Machinery Exhibition (IMME 2004), will be inaugurated here on November 24 by the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. The four-day event will provide a common platform for exhibitors, ... More

South China commodities exhibition in Dec
THE China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT — equivalent to the Indian Ministry of Commerce) is back in India for the `South China Commodities (Mumbai) Exhibition 2004'. This follows the successful `The First China ... More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Subsidy outlay for rubber exports in 10th Plan hiked by Rs 27 cr
THE Centre has stepped up the subsidy outlay for the export of natural rubber by Rs 27 crore for the remaining period of the 10th Five-Year Plan from Rs 36.5 crore to Rs 63.77 crore, a Commerce Ministry official said. The subsidy outlay was ... More

TOURISM
Karnataka bets big on healthcare tourism
AFTER biting deep into the IT pie, Karnataka says it is set to do another Bangalore on the world, this time with healthcare tourism. Bangalore and Mysore, together with their super-specialty hospitals and a range of good hotels — even a ... More