ECONOMY
Economy in high-growth trajectory, says Survey
`Industry, investment, infrastructure in robust health' More

Is `remunerative' fair
The Economic Survey warns against any drastic cut in petroleum product duties or any significant increase in foodgrain subsidy. Saying that there is need to recognise the potential contradiction between `remunerative' price for the farmer and ... More

Where have all the high-value notes gone?
Indians may be buying more cell phones, cars and colour television sets with the economy chugging along at nine per cent as the Economic Survey proudly points out. But that is nothing compared to the market for high-denomination currency notes, ... More

Inflation fears pull down chana, wheat
The concern of the Economic Survey 2006-07 over high inflation rate pulled down chana, wheat and guarseed futures on the NCDEX. Chana futures on NCDEX fell 1.17 per cent to Rs 2,110 per quintal. The Government estimates place chana rabi ... More

Undeterred by inflation, Survey plumps for high growth
Even as the creeping inflation has evoked concerns among the allies of the ruling United Progressive Alliance as also the Government headed by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the pre-Budget Economic Survey, presented to Parliament on ... More

Will monetary medicine lower the inflationary pressure?
The debate over the link between inflation and growth tends to remain inconclusive, and let not the RBI contemplate on any serious monetary contraction which is likely to stifle growth than contain inflation. More

Need to curb inflation without hurting growth
Inflationary pressure is likely to continue during the current financial year and containing it, without hurting the economic growth momentum, is high on the Government's priority list, the Economic Survey 2006-07 said. "The pressure on ... More

Population growth to stabilise by 2045
Country poised to reap rich `demographic dividends' More

EXCISE AND CUSTOMS
Rs 38 cr allotted to improve CBEC infrastructure
The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, has sanctioned Rs 38.48 crore to the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) for improving its infrastructure and functional efficiency. This is being given as an incentive for the CBEC's revenue ... More

FOREIGN TRADE
Australia to help India progress in Doha Round of trade talks
The talks had got stuck because none of the parties concerned had moved sufficiently enough to secure a high quality agreement. More

INFRASTRUCTURE
SEZ policy must address stakeholders' fears
In the backdrop of the debates over the costs and benefits of special economic zones (SEZs), the Economic Survey has said that fears about revenue losses and compensation could be allayed only through proper policies. "The recent debate about ... More

PSU
Cloud clears for Autokast
Thomas Isaac upbeat on the company's future More

HNL silver jubilee fete inaugurated
As a company under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and wholly owned subsidiary of Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd, the Hindustan News Print Ltd (HNL) has carved a success story for itself braving heavy odds, said Mr R.L. ... More

PETROLEUM
Duty cuts on petroleum products unlikely
Survey against compromising on fiscal health of economy More

ONGC, Cairn agree to find best crude price for Rajasthan fields
With no conflict between the producers of Rajasthan field - Cairn India Ltd and ONGC - on the issue of crude price, the two entities have decided to approach the Petroleum Ministry to reach a final figure. A senior ONGC executive told ... More

PHARMACEUTICALS
Pharma sector turnover to double by 2010
The Economic Survey 2006-07 has predicted a doubling of turnover to Rs 1,00,000 crore for the pharmaceutical industry by 2010 and said that the National Pharmaceutical Policy will be implemented soon. The sector, with exports of Rs 21,000 for ... More

POWER
THDC, NPCIL to develop hydel projects
Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) today signed an MoU with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) to jointly develop pumped storage schemes and other hydel projects. Under the agreement, THDC would provide ... More

STEEL
Strong domestic demand pushes up steel prices
Steel prices have shot up during the first three quarters of the current financial year mainly due to strong domestic demand and increase in cost of raw materials like zinc and ferro alloys, the Economic Survey tabled in Parliament said. The ... More

TAXATION
Chidambaram may peg higher revised estimates for direct taxes
Tax collections grew by 39.5% this fiscal More

TEXTILES
Rigid labour laws dog textile sector
The competitiveness of the textiles sector continues to be hampered by rigidities in labour laws, ageing machinery and infrastructure bottlenecks such as inadequate power supply and port facilities, the Economic Survey has said. The survey ... More

SSI
SSIs must enhance tech capabilities
The micro and small enterprises sector, which accounts for 39 per cent of the country's manufacturing output, can achieve sustained higher growth by enhancing its technological capabilities and improving product and service ... More

RAILWAY BUDGET
`Rail Budget not to hit road transport sector'
Better co-ordination sought between rail and road sectors More

RADIO/TV
DTH: Reliance Blue Magic to get space this year
ISRO clearing backlog; awaits launch of 4B on March 10 More

Broadcasters' plea against CAS pricing rejected
The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has rejected Set Discovery and ESPN Star Sports' appeal against regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India tariff order of Rs 5 per channel for conditional access system (CAS) ... More

EDUCATION
Helios & Matheson ties up with ISB
IT services provider Helios & Matheson and the Indian School of Business (ISB) have announced partnership to host the semi-finals of the `Global Social Venture Competition' (GSVC). Announcing the partnership with Helios & Matheson, Mr Ajit More

Tier II B-school grads get 20% more pay
While the placement season at the IIMs is only now hotting up, top schools in the second rung have already wrapped up their campus recruitment processes. The average salary at these schools was around Rs 6 lakh per annum, a jump of about 20 per ... More

Babson vision for Asia
Babson College located in Wellesley, Massachussets, known for its entrepreneurial studies, plans to look for local partners in India for building its brand. Mr Brian Barefoot, President of Babson College, along with the alumni ... More

Goldman Sachs to contribute $1 m to Room to Read
Goldman Sachs Foundation, a NGO outfit of the leading financial institution, will contribute $1 million of expansion capital to Room to Read India, an organisation focusing on providing education to underprivileged children. The US-based Room ... More

NET signs pact with UK varsity
The UK-based Bedfordshire University and the Nitte Education Trust (NET) have signed an agreement for twinning programmes between the two institutions. Inaugurating the new e-campus of the Justice K.S. Hegde Institute of Management (a constituent ... More

Turkey keen to set up varsity
Turkey is keen to set up an international university in India. It has done exploratory work and is weighing options of establishing a general university in Hyderabad, once the Union Government gives the necessary approval. A 10-member Turkish ... More

Aussie varsities keen on opening branches in AP
Mr Warren Truss, Australian Minister for Trade, said that several universities from his country were waiting to open their branches in Andhra Pradesh. Mr Truss, who is leading a 63-member industrial and business delegation, met Dr Y.S. ... More

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION
Satellite township to come up in Medak dist
A consortium of Tishman Speyer India Master fund, ICICI Venture Fund Management Company and Nagarjuna Construction Company would establish an integrated self contained satellite township at Tellapur village in Medak District. The estimated cost ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

KNITWEAR & HOSIERY
Tirupur body hails triple stack container trains
The non-increase of freight rates would help the industries which are extensively using railway's goods services. The Railways' decision to enhance the number of ordinary passenger coaches would also boost the facility for daily travellers to ... More

CINEMA
Sun, sand and movie stars
An Australian beach paradise wants to use Bollywood to reach out to Indian businessmen and leisure tourists. More

World Cup threat to Telugu film industry
Though some of the films are going to be released before the World Cup begins, there are apprehensions that the matches will have an impact on the subsequent run. More

DISINVESTMENT
Focus on market divestment of CPSEs
Reiterating the Government's commitment towards disinvestments of Central public sector enterprises (CPSEs), the Economic Survey tabled today in Parliament said that the current disinvestment policy is to list large profitable CPSEs on domestic ... More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Study on impact of FDI, big players' entry in retail
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday said that it had commissioned a study on the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) and big retail players on the domestic retail sector, as suggested by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). "I ... More

Plea to raise cap on health cover tax benefits
Mr Antony Jacob, Managing Director, Royal Sundaram Alliance Insurance Company hopes that the promised comprehensive Insurance Reforms Bill will happen soon. "Foreign direct investment needs to be increased to 49 per cent. This will allow for ... More

Services sector attracts highest FDI in April-Sept 2006
India bypasses Korea as FDI destination in Asia More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
PERSPECTIVE
Micro-finance needs soft norms, tough monitoring
The ever increasing rate of failure of urban co-operative banks in recent years has made prudential regulation and supervision of micro-finance institutions crucial, to protect the financial system as a whole, particularly the small depositor. ... More

Disbursements for rural infrastructure lag sanctions
Disbursements under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund continue to lag behind sanctions, according to the Economic Survey, 2006-07. The cumulative amount sanctioned to the State governments up to January 25, was at Rs 58,795.36 crore while ... More

INCOME TAX
Waiving big money goodbye
Exemptions in income-tax, corporation tax, excise and customs and others incentives would cost the exchequer a whopping Rs 1,00,147 crore in the current financial year, the Economic Survey has estimated. This is a pointer that Budget 2007-08 ... More

Meet on direct taxes
The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) will organise an interactive meeting on `Direct taxes - changes and modifications' brought out in the Union Budget here on March 2. Mr P.P. Jauhari, ... More