The Hindu Business Line : Wednesday, July 01, 2009

INDUSTRY & ECONOMY

BUDGET: Private trusts may be allowed to invest in listed stocks
Law could be amended in the Budget session. Private trusts may soon be permitted to park their funds in listed shares and specified debt securities, official ...

FOREIGN TRADE: Current account turns surplus on lower trade deficit
Pvt transfers, software services boost net receivables. Mumbai, June 30 For the first time in nearly two years, India’s current account recorded a surplus in the fourth quarter of last ...

ECONOMY: Core sector grows 2.8% in May
Cement, coal emerge best performers. New Delhi, June 30 A dip in the production of crude oil and refined petro-products notwithstanding, the index of six core infrastructure industries registered a growth of 2.8 per cent in May and 3.9 per cent ...

CONSUMERISM: Consumers may get a say in mediclaim settlements
TPA panel proposes new body to speed up process. Kolkata, June 30 Consumer representatives may get a say in claims settlement for mediclaim policies if the recommendations of the Third Party Administrator Committee are accepted by the ...

TAXATION: Petro sector, taxes of local bodies to be out of GST net
New Delhi, June 30 The petroleum sector would be kept out of the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime, a senior Finance Ministry official ...

POWER: Water, power woes could see diesel demand spin out of control
Oil refiners fear higher losses on sale of the fuel. Mumbai/New Delhi, June 30 The power and water shortage across the country is not the best of news to oil refiners who are worried that this could lead to excessive diesel consumption at a time ...

INCOME TAX: UTN not mandatory for filing income-tax returns
New Delhi, June 30 The Central Board of Direct Taxes has deferred the implementation of furnishing of the unique transaction number (UTN) for filing ...

ECONOMY: Policy drought
India is probably the only country these days that wishes for dark clouds, literally. So far rain-laden clouds continue to play hide and seek underlining once again just how important the monsoons are in the Indian sub-continent. Kharif ...

MINERALS: Iron ore exports from Karnataka decline 50%
Fallout of drop in global market prices; immediate recovery ruled out. Bangalore, June 30 Iron ore and mineral exports from Karnataka fell by about 50 per cent in 2008-09 owing to the 60 per cent drop in global market prices since September ...

PERSONAL PRODUCTS: Budget wishlist: FMCG cos hope for VAT, excise duty exemptions
An increase in the Budget outlay for the rural sector, abolition of fringe benefit tax (FBT) and complete exemption of central sales tax are some of the issues which are on the wishlist of FMCG companies before the ...

BUDGET: Gujarat levies entertainment tax of Rs 200 a year on DTH connections
Rs 53.76-crore surplus budget presented. Gandhinagar, June 30 Levying entertainment tax at the rate of Rs 200 a year per television connection on houses having direct-to-home (DTH) facility, the Finance Minister, Mr Vajubhai Vala, on Tuesday ...

BUDGET: Make healthcare accessible, affordable
It is heartening that the UPA Government has declared healthcare as a pillar of social sector reforms. The Government can be expected to hike outlays for the sector in the Budget.But more than this, the Government must ensure ...

AUTOMOBILES: Electric vehicle makers see revenue potential in carbon credits
Hero Electric, Reva, Kabirdass Motor appoint consultants. Mumbai, June 30 Armed with their zero-emission claims, makers of electric vehicles are trying for carbon ...

BUDGET: Build up construction equipment sector
India is a major market for infrastructure development. The construction industry, set to achieve its true potential, offers a huge opportunity for the various ...

FOREIGN TRADE: Bhutan invites Indian investments
Kolkata, June 30 As part of its economic liberalisation programme currently under preparation, Bhutan will invite Indian investments in hydroelectric power generation, information and communication technology, hospitality, education and ...

URBAN DEVELOPMENT: Ministry seeks Rs 50,000 cr extra outlay for JNNURM
New Delhi, June 30 In an effort to bring 28 more cities under the scheme, the Urban Development Ministry on Monday aggressively pitched for an additional outlay of Rs 50,000 crore for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission ...

BUDGET: Poor infrastructure is India’s Achilles heel
Given the limited revenue openings for the Government, an ambitious Budget with a steep fiscal deficit may lead to sizeable borrowings, thus crowding out the credit requirements of the private sector, and making capital dearer. Alternatively, ...

SSI: India backs C’wealth in developing MSME sectors
Kochi, June 30 India has assured the London-based Commonwealth Secretariat (CS) of full support to the member countries with regard to skill development in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sectors to make their products ...

TEXTILES: Maran to lead team for Tokyo textile fair
Tirupur, June 30 The Textiles Ministry is preparing to help exporters gain access to new ...

INFRASTRUCTURE: Infrastructure fee on new buildings nets TN Rs 102 cr
Chennai, June 30 The infrastructure and amenities charge on real estate development has netted the Tamil Nadu Government over Rs 101.71 crore as of ...

FOREIGN TRADE: External debt increases due to rise in trade credits
Mumbai, June 30 India’s external debt increased by $5.3 billion in FY2009 to $229.9 billion from $224.6 billion, due to increase in trade ...

CLIMATE & WEATHER: Glimmer of hope
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EDUCATION: Engg college rating
Coimbatore, June 30 The National Assessment and Accreditation Council has awarded Sathyamangalam-based Bannari Amman Institute of Technology “Grade-A” (the highest grade).Dr A. Shanmugham, Principal, Bannari, said 511 candidates ...

BUDGET: Revamp education sector
With the Right to Education Bill all set to be enacted and the HRD Ministry’s 100-day agenda promising forward looking reforms in the education sector, the Finance Ministry can play a supportive role in revamping ...

BUDGET: Stop manufacture of tobacco products
With the ill-effects of tobacco consumption well known, perhaps there should be an effort to stop its products manufacture for larger good.Revenue generation through taxes/duties and employment alone cannot justify manufacture of ...

ENVIRONMENT: India will not accept emission reduction targets
NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday reiterated that it will not accept any emission-reduction ...

PHARMACEUTICALS: Patent pool for public health: Breakthrough or Quixotic initiative?
Is the effort by United Nations-supported UNITAID, an international drug purchasing facility, to create a patent pool in the interest of public health a break-through initiative or is the agency tilting at windmills? In the past, patent ...

RADIO/TV: SEWA sets up 49th CRS
Self Employed Women’s Association’s radio unit Rudi No Radio is setting up its 49th community radio station in Manipur village, Sanand taluka and other villages within a 10-km radius, according to a press release. It ...

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS: Bangalore Chamber office-bearers
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MANAGEMENT: Bangalore Management assn President
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COURTS/LEGAL ISSUES: Compulsory marriage registration
The Tamil Nadu Government is to enact a law providing for the compulsory registration of all marriages of persons of various communities. The Minister for Public Works and Law moved the Bill to provide for compulsory registration of all marriages ...

EDUCATION: IIM-C course for armed forces
A 24-week full time programme in business management is currently being held by the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, for officers of the armed forces. The batch consists of 27 officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force and 22 per cent ...