The Hindu Business Line : Thursday, May 18, 2006

Monsoon sets in over southern rim of Bay
The southwest monsoon has set in over the southeast rim of the Bay of Bengal at least one day ahead of the predicted timeline of Thursday/Friday. The strong westerly flows, moisture feed and persistent cloudiness aided the build-up over the ... More

ECONOMY

`Corporates upbeat on economic scenario'
A majority of the 439 respondents representing the corporate sector felt that the current overall economic conditions as well as industry-level economic scenario are "moderately to substantially'' better compared to the last six months, according ... More

Population growth rates dip below 1 pc in TN, Kerala
SOCIAL INITIATIVES More

Maharashtra Stamps Dept revenue increases
The reform process in the Department of Registration and Stamps, Maharashtra Government, has led to the increase in revenue from Rs 1,800 crore in 1999-2000 to Rs 5,000 crore in 2005-2006, said Mr Nitin Kareer, Commissioner of Pune Municipal ... More

INFRASTRUCTURE

Govt wants debt cap hike for Ultra Mega projects
Each of the six proposed power projects may need around Rs 15,000 cr capex More

Plea to give more thrust to agro-chemical industries in TN
The Chemical Industries Association has asked the Tamil Nadu Government to ensure that one of the mega chemical industrial estates planned by the Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Ministry is set up in the State. In a letter to the Chief ... More

PETROLEUM

Petroleum, gas regulatory board to be in place soon
To promote competition in the oil and natural gas sector More

ONGC despatches first crude oil cargo to MRPL
The first crude oil cargo from ONGC's marginal field was despatched to Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL). According to a statement issued here on Wednesday, ONGC said the cargo of 57,337 tonnes of crude oil from the marginal field . More

TAXATION

Service tax collections rise 62.83%
Service tax collections of the Centre increased by 62.83 per cent during financial year 2005-06 to touch Rs 23,115.46 crore compared with Rs 14,196.39 crore recorded during the previous fiscal. An official release said service ... More

PERSONAL PRODUCTS

Getting more bang for the Balsara buck
Dabur pulled the Balsara business back into the black within six months of acquiring it. The acquisition has helped Dabur gain share in categories such as oral care and home care. More

EDUCATION

MAHE announces new initiatives
In a bid to attract and motivate the best student talent, the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) announced several new initiatives today. Scholarships for 77 top ranking students appearing for the MAHE entrance tests for undergraduate ... More

EAMCET results on Hutch
Hutch today announced the availability of EAMCET results for its subscribers through an interactive voice response (IVR) system. Customers can call 123 IVR service and say result, then choose the exam for which one desires to ... More

TWO/THREE WHEELERS

Musings in an auto-rickshaw
The lack of competition in the three-wheeler market makes for very little activity. More

FOODS & FOOD PROCESSING

Govt may revisit food parks concept
The Government is considering to revisit the concept of food parks to decentralise their working and also to de-link wines and beer from alcoholic drinks under the excise law to give a fillip to fruit-based drink projects near production centres, ... More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT

Louis Vuitton, Lladro seek Govt nod for retail foray
$10 billion FDI expected annually from the current financial year More

SOCIAL WELFARE

Reservations: Let down by weak data
The Government's move to introduce reservation in the private sector may have the lofty aim of enhancing social justice. But it is unfortunate that policy formulations with such far-reaching implications are to be based on such a meagre and suspect d atabase, points out R. VAIDYANATHAN. More

INCOME TAX

RBI gets more flexibility on CRR, SLR; Bill passed
LS also passes amendment to taxation laws Bill More

Tax breaks for donations to political parties may be removed
Govt seeks stakeholders' views on sops More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS

Now, Pakistan buying Indian chana
REVERSAL OF TREND More

Yellow power
RISING EXPORTS: Turmeric being weighed and packed in a gunny bag at a wholesale outlet in Kochi. The shipments have increased to 42,500 tonnes valued at Rs 139.27 crore from 38,847 tonnes worth Rs 142.95 crore in the same period last fiscal. ... More

TOURISM

`Media must be more creative while promoting tourism'
Tourism in new forms should provide the media with opportunities to be more creative to address different interest groups with better marketing of the products. Media today is highly segmented and it is very easy to reach these different groups ... More

Visakha Beach plans mega tourism project
To invest Rs 2,000-3,000 crore to promote Vizag More