The Hindu Business Line : Tuesday, May 30, 2006

EMPLOYMENT
MCCI to address graduates' soft skills issue
The Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry plans a series of initiatives to address the issue of graduates not possessing soft skills and hence being unemployable. "There is a void in the industry as we have vacancies but only five per cent of ... More

CLIMATE & WEATHER
400 fishing boats stranded in coastal Karnataka
Coast Guard help sought for rescue operation More

Monsoon pauses, could revive to `shut out' briefly
Heat wave conditions prevail over most parts of Rajasthan, West Haryana and Northwest Madhya Pradesh where day temperatures hover around 45°C. Mumbai likely to get rains by Thursday, Gujarat the next day More

INVESTMENTS
States shower incentives for attracting investments
UP may lower investment criteria to Rs 100 cr, cover all industries More

NON-CONVENTIONAL ENERGY
Sourcing power
SETTING AN EXAMPLE: This fisher family at Kondamadalu village on the banks of the Godavari in West Godavari district is tapping the solar energy by making use of photo-voltaic cells. The family, hailing from a village in East Godavari, settles ... More

ECONOMY
Can democracy ensure economic discipline?
Freedom is an important component of development. But if it can deliver economic advancement for a vast majority depends squarely on whether or not the policy environment is conducive, says BHANOJI RAO. Clearly the Indian democracy faces a key chal lenge: How to ensure necessary discipline while eschewing unwanted authoritarianism. More

Study highlights key factors for reform of public services
World Bank study examined 25 success stories in the country across health, education, IT and urban management More

ENVIRONMENT
`Govts will chip in to tackle pollution'
Union Minister's assurance to tanning, dyeing units More

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS
Notification on MRP-based excise
The Finance Ministry has specified June 1 as the date from which the maximum retail price-based excise levy would be applicable on toothbrush, plant growth regulators and parts, components and assemblies of ... More

HEALTH
Snuffing out smoking with pictorial health warnings
New rules awaiting green signal from Health Ministry More

INFRASTRUCTURE
UTI AMC to launch $200-300-m overseas infrastructure fund
2 new funds for domestic market; net equity purchases at Rs 900 cr last week More

Russian, Taiwan firms bag phase I of ORR
A Russian and a Taiwanese company have been chosen as developers for the ambitious first phase of the Rs 3,500-crore Outer Ring Road (ORR) project that would connect the high-density corridor from Gachibowli to Shamshabad. The new international ... More

IMTMA plans exhibition centre
The Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association (IMTMA) will set up an exhibition centre in Bangalore at a cost of over Rs 120 crore. The Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) Chairman, Mr Jamshyd N. Godrej, in a ... More

POWER
AP to induct 7,114 contract staff for power sector
The Andhra Pradesh Government is in the process of finalising guidelines for the recruitment of 7,114 junior linemen on contract basis and a notification would be issued within a week. The State Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, on ... More

CAG points out deficiencies in NTPC gas-based plants' working
Report on PSUs reveals mismatch between commitment, supply of gas More

NTPC to raise Barh plant capacity
NTPC Ltd today said it would enhance the capacity of its Barh super thermal power project in Bihar. The company is considering enhancing capacity by adding either two units of 660 MW each (1320 MW) or two units of 800 MW each ... More

Energy efficiency labels: India joins 12-nation group
Empowers consumer to make informed choices More

TAXATION
17 pc growth in Karnataka commercial tax collection
Of the total tax collection of Rs 1,167 crore in the first month of the current fiscal, Rs 612 crore is from VAT. The State collected Rs 515 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal. More

SSI
CIBIL launches commercial bureau
Database to have credit history of borrowers More

`Credit ratings vital for SME sector growth'
The small and medium enterprises (SME) sector has a lot to gain from third-party ratings as the benefits go beyond obtaining bank loans at lower interest rates and enable them achieve more orderly growth, according to Mr D. Thyagarajan, SME ... More

PERSONAL PRODUCTS
Branded foods to drive HLL growth
The challenge is to build scale, says Manwani More

RADIO/TV
Radio City enters Hyderabad
Radio City, a private FM radio brand promoted by Music Broadcast Private Ltd (MBPL), announced the launch of its fifth radio station in the country in Hyderabad on Monday. It currently has its presence in Mumbai, Delhi, ... More

Star not to give DTH signals till July
Star India has given an undertaking to the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT), that it will not give signals to any other DTH platform till July 3, 2006. The move comes after the Zee Group-promoted ASC Enterprises filed a ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Paradip port to allot land to Deepak Fert
Paradip Port Trust (PPT) has decided to allot 39 acres of land to Deepak Fertilisers & Chemicals Ltd keen to set up in the port area an ammonium nitrate fertiliser plant with an estimated capacity of 2.5 to three lakh tonnes annually. Deepak ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Kerala Chamber plans fair focused on agri sector
The Chamber of Commerce, Thiruvananthapuram, is planning to organise a trade fair targeted at Kerala's agricultural sector and traditional industries such as coir. Scheduled to be held in the city in October or November this year, the event is ... More

SOCIAL WELFARE
Have income, give subsidies
The fault lies not in providing subsidies to the poor and the needy but in not raising enough resources. The Government provides tax exemptions, which reduce legitimate tax revenues due to it, and the variety of subsidies and sops, says T. C. A. R AMANUJAM, exacerbates the economy's woes. More

The great leap backward
The Cabinet room was crackling with excitement. Small groups huddled together exchanging whispers, as they waited for Mr Dharma Raja, the Prime Minister, to come in. And, suddenly, the room went quiet as the Prime Minister walked in with his ... More

HUMAN RESOURCES
A finishing school with a difference
More

REGULATORY BODIES & RULINGS
3 zonal Rlys faulted for sub-optimal use of computerised application
Uniform online payment and accounting system implementation More

EVENTS
Gem, jewellery expo in US
Ninety Indian exhibitors from the gem and jewellery industry would participate in JCK-Las Vegas, an annual trade event. Indian participation has been increasing over the years, from just 26 exhibitors in 2001 to 90 this year, ... More

INCOME TAX
Indo-Japan income tax treaty changes
The Governments of Japan and India today exchanged diplomatic notes indicating both countries' legal approval on the protocol amending the income-tax treaty between them. The notes were signed and exchanged between Mr Yasukuni ... More

TOURISM
Campaign to promote Buddhist sites planned
In an effort to attract more foreign tourists, particularly from South-East Asia, the Ministry of Tourism plans to launch a campaign to promote Buddhist sites, the Minister for Tourism and Culture, Ms Ambika Soni, has said. Addressing the ... More