The Hindu Business Line : Wednesday, March 21, 2007

SOCIAL SECURITY
Kerala Govt opposes plan for contributory pension
The Kerala Government has expressed to the Centre its unwillingness to introduce contributory pension scheme for the employees of the State Government. The Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, said in reply to questions in the State Assembly ... More

ECONOMY
Call rates zoom to 22% on liquidity crunch
Rs 35,000 cr advance tax outflows cause strain; Re hits 18-month high More

PM moots State-wise strategies for farm sector
The Prime Minister urged the Planning Commission to come forward with new ideas on vocational education and modernisation of education. More

ENVIRONMENT
Bleak future
BARREN: A food stall under a denuded tree in Matheran, a hill station in Maharashtra, reflecting the state of forests as the World Forest Day is celebrated on Wednesday. ... More

FOREIGN TRADE
London Mayor visiting India
The Lord Mayor of the City of London, Mr Alderman John Stuttard, will lead a high-powered business delegation to India from May 19-27. Besides discussing various regulatory issues relating to the financial sector of both India and the UK, Mr ... More

Ties remain strong
POWER TALKS: The FICCI President, Mr Habil Khorakiwala (left), and the US Energy Secretary, Mr Samuel W. Bodman, at an interactive luncheon meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. Mr Bodman said that energy deals between India and Iran would not affect ... More

INFRASTRUCTURE
$300-b SPV mooted for Asian infrastructure
The RIS study says several cross-border projects for improving energy security and cross-border surface transport with high pay-offs are languishing because of lack of resources and complex negotiations. More

Reaping the whirlwind
on the Left parties' trumpeting of the virtues of land reforms and the importance of owning land. More

PSU
Keltec takeover proposal under consideration, says Antony
It could be a takeover by the DRDO or a joint venture or a long-term supply contract. More

PETROLEUM
`India-Iran energy deals won't affect US ties'
Deora emphasises need for more participation by US oil majors More

POWER
Efficiency award for Transco
Transmission Corporation of Andhra Pradesh Ltd (AP Transco) has announced it has been chosen for another award for efficient performance by the Central Electricity Authority. The award is to be handed over by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan ... More

Don't impose power cuts till exams are over: Minister
The power supply company catering to the needs of the Dakshina Kannada district - Mangalore Electricity Supply Company (Mescom) Ltd - has been requested to maintain uninterrupted power supply in the evenings till the examinations for school ... More

TAXATION
Insurers seek service tax waiver on sub Rs 4-lakh agent commission
Council to approach Finance Ministry for relief More

WATER
Dead river
THE MUSI, a tributary of the Krishna river, flows through a major portion of Hyderabad, separating the old and new quarters of the city. Untreated domestic and industrial waste and chemicals, estimated to be around 350 MLD (million litres a day), ... More

Spectre of drought
THE GAYATRIPUZHA is all but dried up as summer progresses. A scene from Thiruvilwamala. World Water Day is observed on March 22 to create awareness on the need to preserve water ... More

RADIO/TV
Plea for open sky policy in satellite services
The broadcasting and telecommunications industries have renewed calls for the Government to consider an open sky policy in the satellite services segment that will enable greater choice for consumers. Indian and international industry ... More

EDUCATION
Cornell varsity meet on April 15
The Cornell University of the US, in association with the Hyderabad-based Sathguru Management Consultants, would organise `Food and agri business management programme' in Kochi. The Indian module of the six-day programme will ... More

`Strategic marketing is nothing but avoiding competition'
Marketing is the only game where there is no winner or loser. If one wins and the other loses, then it is not marketing. It is a win-win situation for both. The marketing landscape today, is beyond 4 Ps, Mr S. Ramachander, Management Consultant, ... More

GEMS & JEWELLERY
New sporting brand
DAZZLING GIFT: Film actress Mahima Chaudhary, Brand Ambassador, Gitanjali Group, at a press conference unveiling a new sports range `Sporteratti' and the first-ever diamond studded cricket ball in Mumbai on Tuesday. The cricket ball will be ... More

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Assocham seeks tax sops for BPOs
Assocham has urged the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, to let BPO companies and other ITES providers enjoy tax concessions for venture capital investments. The Finance Minister had announced a change in Budget 2007-08 for ... More

KNITWEAR & HOSIERY
Apparel council workshop in Tirupur
The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) is holding a workshop on `Profiting through quality' for the benefit of knitwear industry at Tirupur on March 22. The workshop, to be anchored by Dr Rajesh Bheda, a management consultant and ... More

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Avesthagen to build Rs 125-cr Parsi database
Avestha Gengraine Technologies Pvt Ltd has announced a new project, Avestagenome, to build a complete genetic, genealogical and medical database of the minuscule but high-profile Parsi community. The Rs 125-crore project will be conducted over ... More

MINERALS
Decline in iron ore exports through east coast ports
Iron ore exports through east coast ports are steadily declining, according to the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries (FIMI). In a statement, FIMI has given port-wise break-ups to emphasise the sharp drop in shipments. In March 2006, ... More

Govt may not hike iron ore export duty: Paswan
`Needs of steel sector and its expansion plans have to be factored in' More

CINEMA
Hyderabad all set for film fest from Friday
Telugu film industry offers full support More

DISINVESTMENT
Gujarat Govt may divest in Gujarat Chemical Port Terminal
Reliance Industries could emerge as new owner More

FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
FIPB defers decision on Vodafone deal
The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) on Tuesday deferred a decision on Vodafone's proposal to acquire Hutchison Telecom International Ltd's (HTIL) stake in Hutchison Essar. Vodafone has sought Government approval to complete the ... More

`India must welcome FDI from Bangladesh'
Bangladeshi officials described the fair as an exercise to familiarise Indian businessmen with Bangladeshi capabilities. More

Bensield plans investments
The UK-based Bensield group is looking to invest in India in a reinsurance broking venture. The Bensield Managing Director, Mr Abrian Clark, indicated the investment would be in a joint venture with IRICS, who is an existing business partner of ... More

Tobacco growers meet PM with plea to allow FDI
A delegation of tobacco farmers from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on Tuesday along with some members of the Lok Sabha from Andhra Pradesh and asked for Foreign Direct Investment in the ... More

RURAL DEVELOPMENT
`Specify limits for using fuel cess to repay loans'
Expanding scope for financing rural road projects More

Kisan Mela from April 4
Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) will conduct the 27th annual `Kisan Mela' at Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district from April 4 to 6. Addressing presspersons at Bantwal, Dr D. Veerendra Heggade, ... More

Micro-finance Bill tabled
The Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, tabled the Micro Financial Sector (Development and Regulation) Bill 2007, in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The Bill makes the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) the ... More

Development expert calls on Reddy
Dr Nirupam Bajpai, a development advisor and Director of Harvard India programme at Centre for International Development, today called on the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and discussed issues relating ... More

REGULATORY BODIES & RULINGS
Competition Commission and cricket!
Parallels can be drawn between the Commission and cricket More

EXPORTS & IMPORTS
Cotton exports may top 48 l bales
Cotton exports from the country are slated to touch 48 lakh bales valued at Rs 3,791.19 crore this fiscal, the Union Minister of State for Textiles, Mr E.V.K.S. Elangovan, informed Lok Sabha on Tuesday. This would break the ... More

TOURISM
Commonwealth group in Bengal, Orissa to study tourism potential
Focusing on `sustainable tourism as development option' More